Adam Aronovitz and his wife, Alissa Bilfield, are co-founders of The Cookbook Project, a New Orleans-based non-profit with a mission to “empower youth to be catalysts for healthier communities through food literacy and cooking education.” They focus on health, sustainability, and community.
During the 2013-14 school year The Cookbook Project partnered with City Year and The Barbara Lynch Foundation to pilot a food literacy education program in the Boston Public Schools. One cohort of City Year staff were trained to implement a semester-long program with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students from the Blackstone Elementary School, located in Boston’s historic South End neighborhood. Based on the success of the pilot program, the Boston Food Literacy Initiative was launched during the 2014-15 school year. 55 City Year staff members were trained to run programs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students in four Boston Public Schools. Through an innovative collaboration with The Barbara Lynch Foundation, the program is teaching youth about the connection between their food choices, the community, and the environment.
Currently the Cookbook Project is training and supporting 40 individuals, working in their communities with organizations around New Orleans: Americorps, A’s and Aces, Hollygrove Market, Youth Run Nola, KIPP Charter Schools, The Boys and Girls Club, Oldways, Wilson Charter School, Pentecost Baptist Church, Akili Academy, and Renew School.
TCP is currently recruiting New Orleans leaders to become Food Literacy Educators. They are seeking motivated volunteers and interns with experience in marketing, fundraising, public relations, social media, website development, research and digital media. You can become a certified food literacy educator in your community through their online training program. You can also apply to volunteer, intern or work with the organization (Service hours and college credit are available). Visit them at www.thecookbookproject.org and on Twitter at @CookBookPrj.
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