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Brainfood is a non-profit youth development organization in Washington, DC. Using food as a tool, Brainfood builds life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

 

Introducing Brainfood Community MVPs: our new program where teens build and execute workshops on healthy cooking!

This fall, Brainfood is launching Community MVPs: a pilot program that gives Brainfood graduates the opportunity to take their cooking and leadership skills out of the kitchen and into the community. This 9-month program teaches returning Brainfood students how to develop and facilitate hands-on workshops on healthy cooking.  During the fall participants will design workshops and refine their teaching techniques.  In the spring, participants will identify community groups who are in need of food education resources and schedule times to deliver their workshops at on and off-site locations.  Participants will also be paid for their work as community teachers.

Community MVPs is a continuation of Brainfood’s commitment to meeting people where they are. Building a healthier DC will take more than just having great spaces for urban gardens and farmers markets, or having businesses open retail locations in more neighborhoods. We believe that community based outreach, free or low-cost food education resources, and the creation of safe and welcoming spaces are necessary to change the way that people eat, cook, and buy their food.  We also believe that Community MVPs can play an active role in supporting underserved communities in making healthier food choices. 
 

Brainfood Programs

Local high school students participate in our programs either twice a week after school or every day for five weeks during the summer. Activities include hands-on cooking classes, lectures, field trips and community service projects. Brainfood graduates are equipped with practical cooking skills, an introduction to the food industry, a framework for nutritious eating, and leadership experience that prepares them to make a difference in their community. Brainfood offers three programs:

Brainfood Kitchen All Stars is a year-long program (September - May) that introduces participants to learning life skills and leadership skills through food and cooking.

Participants attend classes 2 days/week (Monday & Wednesday or Tuesday & Thursday) from 4:00pm - 6:30pm. 

This program is offered at our Chinatown and Columbia Heights sites.

Brainfood Community is a year-long program (September - May) where past Brainfood graduates use their leadership skills to plan, facilitate, and deliver healthy cooking workshops to the DC community.

Participants attend classes 2 days/week (Tuesday & Thursday) from 4:00pm - 6:30pm.

This program is offered at our Chinatown site only.

Brainfood Summer Institute is a five-week summer program based on the content for our Kitchen All Stars program.

Participants attend classes 4 days/week (Monday - Thursday) from 1:00pm - 3:30pm.

This program is offered at our Chinatown site only.

Brainfood has two sites in Washington DC:

1525 Newton St. NW
Washington, DC 20010

755 8th St. NW
Washington, DC 20001