Brainfood Community MVPs

Brainfood Community MVPs
September 2011 - May 2012

Brainfood Community MVPs is a year-long program (September - May) 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.

 Questions about the Community MVPs pilot program?  Contact Carina Gervacio: carina@brain-food.org

In order to be eligible for the Community MVPs program, students must have previously completed the Kitchen All Stars (formerly Brainfood After School) or the Summer Institute.

Why should I do Brainfood Community MVPs?

• Learn job skills and facilitation skills
  
• Be a resource to the DC community on healthy cooking and eating
  
• Get paid to teach cooking!
  
• Have fun, learn new recipes, and make a positive impact on the local food system

During the school year, Brainfood offers Community MVPs classes:

• Tuesdays & Thursdays (Chinatown 4 – 6:30pm)
  

How to Join the Community MVPs program

Students who are interested in joining the Community MVPs should complete the following steps:

Step 1: Fill out a Community MVPs Application

Students who are interested in joining Brainfood Community MVPs need to be able to attend program for the entire school year (September – May). Community MVPs classes start on September 29th, 2011.

Students who are interested in enrolling in Brainfood Community MVPs should submit an application to Carina.

Step 2: Attend Community MVPs Orientation on Thursday, September 22nd
Attending an orientation session is MANDATORY for enrollment into the Brainfood Community MVPs 11-12 program.

 *** After orientation, students may be admitted on a case-by-case basis as spaces open up.

• At orientation, youth will learn more about the Brainfood Community MVPs program, meet program staff, tour the facilities, and be interviewed to determine their schedule compatibility and their interest in the program.
• Applicants will be notified by September 23rd if they are accepted into the program.
• Priority will be given to applicants who (1) have completed either the after school program or the Summer Institute with over 60% attendance (2) reside and/or attend school in Washington, DC, (3) can arrive at their assigned class location by 4pm, and (4) can attend the program for the entire school year.

Brainfood’s Wait List Policy

In the event that we have more applicants than spots, some students may be placed on a wait list or be given priority enrollment to the Kitchen All Stars program.  If a student is placed on the wait list, Brainfood will keep their information on file and contact the student if a spot opens up in his/her desired class & location. 

If a student finds out about Brainfood after our orientation sessions they can apply to be placed on our wait list and may be admitted on a case-by-case basis as spaces open up.