Shared Table: A Night of Big Impact

By November 20, 2025November 21st, 2025Impact, In the City, The Power of Cooking
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center
Shared Table at Nowon by The Sylvia Center

Earlier this week, The Sylvia Center gathered with friends, partners, and supporters for an unforgettable evening at Nowon in Bushwick. The event brought together 55 guests for a night filled with exceptional food, meaningful conversation, and shared commitment to nourishing young people and their communities. Chef Jae Lee and the Nowon team treated the guests to an extraordinary menu—including the restaurant’s legendary burger—that kept the room buzzing all night.

We’re deeply grateful to Great Performances for donating the evening’s wine, beer, and beverages, and a special shout-out goes to board member and chef extraordinaire Ayesha Nurdjaja for starring in the video that so powerfully captures the the heart of our mission, and the transformative impact of culinary education.

And it wasn’t just the front of house that was making an impact. Our alumni, Sam, Adamaris, and Abdiel, represented The Sylvia Center with pride, sharing their experiences as students and now educators, helping to prep bites and giving guests an inside look at what our programs make possible. We were honored to have several members of our board in the room, including Jean-Robert Andre, Lynn Cole, Nina Freedman, Tara Gendelman, Scott Millstein, Adrien Rios, andAnita Sibony de Adelsberg.

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who joined us, the evening raised vital funds that will directly support young people across New York City and Upstate New York. Together, our community:

  • Funded an entire middle school class, serving our fastest-growing age group.

  • Supported programming for 24 elementary students, ensuring they have the skills and confidence to cook for themselves and their families.

  • Provided 128 meal kits for families—about 10% of all the kits we distributed last year, with plans to expand the program as food benefits shrink and food access needs grow.

  • Collectively funded 12 Teen Apprenticeships—nearly a full cohort—including three teens who now have full support for all 12 weeks of their apprenticeship.

The impact of this evening will be felt far beyond the walls of Nowon. It will show up in classrooms, community centers, kitchens, and family tables in the months ahead. We’re excited to share more about the difference your support makes—explore our latest Annual Report to see the full picture of what community-powered culinary education can do.

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