Life s Kitchen Annual Report

Life s Kitchen Annual Report Fiscal Year 2011 The Life s Kitchen mission is to transform the lives of at-risk young adults by building self-sufficiency and independent living through comprehensive food service and life skills training, supporting placement in the food service industry, and continuing education. July 2011

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 2 Letter from the Executive Director Our fiscal year has come to an end. As we put a wrap on the year, as organizations do, we look at our program with an eye towards evaluation. What did we do? Who did we help? How did we help them? I m very proud of what Life s Kitchen students were able to accomplish this year. Our Board of Directors performed at a very high level, helping create an environment that allowed our staff team to thrive. We approved a three year strategic plan that outlines goals and objectives for creating dedicated classroom space for our students, making appropriate building modifications to better serve students and customers and overall preparation for life in an uncertain economy. We purchased a concession trailer that will enable us to cater larger events and be more involved with community events which means great training opportunities for student learning. Our staff team was equally impressive this year. I work with a group that is completely mission driven. We all speak the same language, from culinary to social services; exhibiting cohesiveness in delivering our program. This made for a superior work environment that our students truly appreciated; it is the heart and soul of Life s Kitchen. The students are the ones who benefit from all the work and effort, as it should be. In the following pages you will see what I would call a banner year for our students. We adopted the Positive Youth Justice Model of youth development, a model that fit nicely with what we had already been doing for years. Known as PYJ, the practice model doesn t allow students to casts themselves as victims but rather resources for accomplishing great things. You will meet our students, discovering who they are, where they come from and what they were able to do in terms of employment and academics. It is my hope that you will be inspired by their accomplishments! Kurt Alderman Executive Director

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 3 Our Approach Based on the Positive Youth Justice Model (PYJ) Life s Kitchen has created a positive environment where the young adult is no longer a victim but a resource (Butts, Bazemore & Meroe, 2010). This model, successfully used in the Juvenile Justice system, allows for the developing young adult to make their own positive choices and inspires confidence, over time, to become a successful and contributing member of society. It is a framework for understanding the youth, capitalizing on their strengths and improving their weaknesses. With the PYJ foundation we have developed staff by training them in the Love & Logic teaching method (Jim Fay, 1998) as well as the fundamentals of Brain Rules by John J. Medina (2008). These two theories approach our demographic in two separate methods. First, Brain Rules, provides a cognitive development background for at-risk populations. Dr. Medina outlines 10 rules that lead to a successful adult. This physical and biological method for assisting developing minds provides a framework for understanding learning disabilities as well as coping mechanisms during training. A Recipe of Success: The Life s Kitchen Model At-risk youth (16-20) referred from a probation officer, foster home, mental health professional, alumni or other. Application Process Positive Outcomes: Enrollment, employment, referral to other services, increased independence, rise in self-confidence, and other goal attainment as desired. Transition Services Foodservice: Contract Foods, Catering, and Café Service Academic: H.S. Credits, College Credits, GED Life Skill Classes: Employability, Conflict Resolution, Financial Literacy, Taxes, Positive Peer Culture, Housing, Health, Relationships, etc.

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 4 Barriers to Success The barriers to success that each youth face are as unique as their goals and dreams. Before entry, each potential student fills out an application and undergoes an interview to determine their fit at Life s Kitchen. Their barriers are determined, their goals outlined, and an individual education plan is determined. The statistics surrounding the barriers are: 95% of students live 250% below federal poverty guidelines, 93% have criminal histories, 86% come from single parent home, 96% have a significant history of drug/alcohol misuse, 37% have histories of abuse (sexual, emotional, physical, etc.), 21% are homeless, 7% are single parents, 42% have diagnosed learning disabilities, and 86% are working with mental health concerns. All students have multiple barriers and equal access to all resources at Life s Kitchen. 95% of Life s Kitchen students live 250% below federal poverty guidelines *Number of students enrolled with barrier

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 5 Successes During a recent graduation, one of our students gave a speech on the benefits that Life s Kitchen has had in her life. Aside from employment and educational goals, she aimed to make her mother proud. Nervously she stood behind the formal podium and microphone, not looking a bit out of place. She donned a crisp, white chef coat, a white baker s hat, and wept in front of her friends and family. She felt that the program not only offered the material items to help her succeed but also the confidence, discipline and motivation to make her mother, and herself, proud. As our students work through the program they are inspired through cooking for other at-risk populations: homeless families, runaway youth, and a detox center. Life s Kitchen is the only agency that provides food to at-risk communities while working with youth currently on probation.

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 6 Successes Life s Kitchen, with the Ansell-Casey Life Skills as a backbone, has developed a 15-point life skills curriculum centered around both soft and hard skill sets that are beneficial to an adult in our environment. Many of the lesson plans are based off of the resources available in the Treasure Valley and vary depending on class need, barriers and interests. The schedule and time allotted allow for creativity in the learning experience as well as addresses specific needs of the individual or the group. Life Skills Scores 63 High School Credits awarded through Borah High School 26 College of Western Idaho Credits earned 15 GEDs obtained We achieve success by having a focused and easily understood mission with tangible/ measurable outcomes that target a largely underserved population. With the support of a hardworking and engaged Board, the highly-qualified staff delivers a comprehensive curriculum in a small class environment where students have the opportunity to earn high school and college credit.

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 7 Sustainability Life s Kitchen is partially sustainable with the work of three social enterprises. Our kitchen is home to contract food production, catering services and a café. In order to train our student in a real-life work model we need real-life work! Our students provide food to several at-risk populations at Interfaith Sanctuary, Allumbaugh Detox Center, and Hays Shelter Home. In order to produce quality food safely our students obtain an Idaho State Food Handler s License or a Manager s ServSafe Certification (a nationally recognized food safety certificate). 22 Manager s- Level ServSafe Certifications Awarded 6 Idaho State Food Handler s Licenses Awarded Students do leave the Life s Kitchen program, but why? In the last year we had 20 young adults drop out. 17 of the 20 returned to the program and made a commitment to personal success. Given the significant barriers that many of our youth face this is a HUGE success. In many of their lives, not achieving goals is the norm.

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 8 Buy a meal, change a life! Life s Kitchen is proud to serve the community through three valuable social enterprises; Contract foods, Catering service and our Café. Here are some of our successes: Through Contract Foods meals were produced for three wonderful nonprofit organizations; Interfaith Sanctuary, Allumbaugh Detox Center and the Hays Shelter Home. Keep up the good work! 5,200 11,680 49,275 This fiscal year we were able to cater some wonderful events through one of our social enterprises. We would like to thank the following groups that used us in their important events; Governor s Arts Awards The Mayor s Office United Way Hunger Summit Idaho Conservation League Annual Fundraiser Scentsy s Annual Picnic (2,000 people) Boise Co-Op Member Appreciation (3,000 people) Ultimate Urban Challenge benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation Café Meals Served = 1,962 Don t forget that our café, located at 1025 S. Capitol Blvd., is open Tuesday thru Friday from 11:30-1 pm!

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 9 Life after LK Davis has accomplished much in only 16 short weeks. He entered the program exactly four months before his 21 st birthday and had been working for Subway for several months. He wanted to move up, take on more responsibility and work on his education plan. While in the Life s Kitchen program he obtained four high school credits, two College of Western Idaho Culinary Arts credits as well as his GED. Davis has a unique personality and drive that shows immense success in his future. He doesn t want to go into foodservice to get a job, he wants a career. He plans on continuing his college education in the CWI Culinary program in the fall and continues to work at Subway. He recently accepted another employment position with Fork, a new restaurant that opened in downtown Boise, and intends on becoming an executive chef. Davis is one of Life s Kitchen s biggest fans, he has continued to volunteer in our café and has even become a math tutor for other LK students! Being a student at Life s Kitchen has taught me to become more independent, self-sufficient, and responsible. Before the day even begins at Life s Kitchen I have to get myself up and find my own means of transportation that will get me to Life s Kitchen on time. Once I m at Life s Kitchen I am held entirely responsible for myself and any decisions that I make. I am a different person than I was when I walked in the doors at Life s Kitchen in March of 2011. Prior to this program I lacked motivation and was not focused on goals or on my future. While being here I have chosen to become more responsible and therefore have accomplished many things. I now have the skills and experience to gain employment and the knowledge to get to college and live independently. I feel Life s Kitchen has helped me transition into adulthood and take responsibility for my future. I am now in a position to find a job, go to school, and become a contributing member of society.

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 10 Life after LK On graduation day, Candace had a special guest to congratulate her; her baby boy. Unlike everyone else in our program Candace was a new, single mom. Having heard about the program from two alumni 8 months prior, Candace decided that she was going to do something not only for herself, but for her new son. Her goals were to get her GED, while in the program, and learn how to cook something more interesting and nourishing than a bowl of ramen noodles. As the first day of the program started, Candace left her twomonth-old son at home with her mother and began a 16-week journey to learn how to fulfill her goals. As she progressed through the program, a change started to show in Candace. Her gait was more meaningful; she stood taller and began to speak with an air of confidence that was missing when she began the program. Having successfully graduated from the program and obtained her GED, Candace is now ready to look for an apartment and is attending cosmetology school. Candace is an embodiment of Life s Kitchen s mission; through our program she has changed her life and gained the skills necessary to live independently. We are very proud of Candace and wish her and her son the very best in life. Al can accomplish anything, seriously. As if that wasn t enough he is also going to smile and stay positive through it all. When he began our program Al had one very specific goal; to be completely independent. By focusing on his love for all things culinary and his employment skills at Life s Kitchen he was able to get a full time job with Boise Christian Retirement Home. He came in to tell us the great news and mentioned that he was so happy to be doing two things that he loves; cooking and helping others. Al graduated from the Job Training Track of Life s Kitchen on May 9th. He has obtained the foodservice and life skill sets necessary to become completely independent from social services and is living on his own. We are so proud of all of Al s accomplishments but stand in awe of everything that he has taught us; smiling in the face of adversity, the knowledge that goodness is just around the corner, and the wowfactor of what the future holds. Congratulations Al on your full-time job as well as your new apartment!

LIFE S KITCHEN Page 11 Contact Us Life s Kitchen 1025 S. Capitol Blvd. Boise, ID 83706 208.331.0199 info@lifeskitchen.org