Earlier this month, The Sylvia Center was proud to contribute three presentations as part of the NYC Food & Nutrition Education Summit, sharing our expertise with educators, school leaders, and community partners from across the city.
For almost 20 years, we’ve worked alongside schools and community organizations to create hands-on culinary experiences that help young people build confidence, develop practical life skills, and connect more deeply with food. The summit provided an opportunity to step back from the classroom and share the strategies, partnerships, and lessons we’ve developed with fellow educators.
Collaboration, Community, Confidence
Our team presented two in-person sessions highlighting different aspects of our work. One explored our partnership with Corona Arts & Sciences Academy, demonstrating how sustained collaboration between schools and community organizations can grow from a single after-school cooking club into a school-wide culture of food education. Another showcased our work with the Horan School, highlighting how accessible, hands-on cooking experiences can support young adults with developmental disabilities as they build independence, confidence, and lifelong culinary skills.
Later that week, we expanded that conversation even further by leading a virtual professional development session for more than 650 NYC Public Schools educators, led by our Senior Programs Manager, Theresa Morelli. The workshop explored practical ways to bring cooking into classrooms of all ages, from lesson planning and classroom management to food safety, curriculum integration, cultural relevance, and strategies for engaging even the most hesitant eaters.
Practical Skills
At The Sylvia Center, we believe food education is about far more than recipes. Cooking creates opportunities to explore science, math, history, culture, teamwork, and critical thinking, while giving young people practical skills they will carry throughout their lives. By sharing our experience with fellow educators, we’re helping those opportunities reach thousands more students beyond the classrooms we teach directly.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring this year’s Food & Nutrition Education Summit to life, and to the educators and community partners who joined us for thoughtful conversations about the future of food education.
