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Spoons Across America National Spokesperson, Jacques Pépin
"The greatest thing you can do for your children is to cook and share food with them. The precious moments you spend together around the family table go way beyond the food itself; they lead to an understanding of the benefits of healthy eating and are the basis for good family relationships."
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Spoons and National Ag Day
This past spring, Spoons Across America participated in the second annual "NY Ag Literacy Day" to promote awareness and appreciation of New York's food and agriculture. At the three schools we visited (PS 1 in Chinatown, PS 282 in Park Slope and PS 132 in Washington Heights), we trained science teachers to read stories and participate in activities that emphasize the importance of local farming and agriculture. In addition, Spoons donated copies of this year's Ag Day book, Lily's Garden by Deborah Kogan Ray (Roaring Brook Press) to each school's library.
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Lead with a carrot! Become a "Greenmarket Guide"
If you love food and are looking for a way to give back to your community, we have the job for you. Spoons Across America needs "Greenmarket Guides" to lead New York City school kids on tours of local Greenmarkets. We will provide you with the training (a one-hour session), you pick the borough (Manhattan, Brooklyn or the Bronx). Most tours take place in October; for more information click here.
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Mission Statement
Spoons Across America - the source for children's culinary education - is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating children, teachers, and families about the benefits of healthy eating.
We work to influence the eating habits of children through hands-on education that celebrates the connection to local farmers and the important tradition of sharing meals around the family table.
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Spoons News © 2007
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Welcome to Spoons News
Welcome to the first issue of Spoons Across America®'s quarterly e-newsletter. We believe in igniting children's natural curiosity for learning by letting them see, feel, smell and taste fresh, healthy food. By exposing them to fruits and vegetables in the greenmarket and on the farm, introducing them to new ingredients in the kitchen, and encouraging them to dig in with their families and friends at the dinner table, we change the way kids think about food, family and themselves.
Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Spoons. They help us spread the joy of food and the message of healthy eating to more children each year - especially kids in underserved and urban neighborhoods. We see first-hand how our programs can change the lives of children - and of our volunteers. One said, "This was the most incredible project I've ever worked on in my entire life - the pride in the children's faces was amazing."
To find our more, to volunteer, or to share your Spoons story, email us at e-newsletter@spoonsacrossamerica.org or visit our website at www.spoonsacrossamerica.org.
We hope you enjoy reading, and thank you for your continued friendship and support.
Julia V. Jordan
President and Founder
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Meet Angel
When Angel Mayol participated in Days of Taste along with his classmates at PS 132 in Washington Heights, little did he realize where it would take him.
A program of the American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF)/New York Chapter, Days of Taste introduced children to the pleasure of cooking and sharing meals. Spoons administers the program in New York for the AIWF.
The adventure started in 2005, when Gracie Mansion executive chef Feliberto Estevez brought the program to a class of 5th-graders at PS 132. Washington Heights is a largely Dominican-American community where 97 percent of residents live below the poverty line. As a former Dominican immigrant and a resident of the neighborhood, Chef Feli wanted to give back to his community.
Captivated by the children's enthusiasm and motivation, Chef Feli invited them to Gracie Mansion to cook and share a meal. "We got to be chefs, and took turns making a vinaigrette," says Angel. The next surprise was when Angel and two classmates were invited to attend Mayor Bloomberg's 2006 inauguration, where they had behind-the-scenes access to the food preparation. "I got to shake the Mayor's hand," says Angel.
With the encouragement of Chef Feli and their teachers, the children decided to pursue their dream of visiting Washington, DC to celebrate their graduation. To fund the trip, the students wrote and published a book of poetry entitled "58 Verses from the 5th Grade." The poems - about food, love, and life - offer a powerful and poignant glimpse into the children's hopes and dreams.
In May 2006, the students of PS 132 made it to the nation's capitol, where they visited the White House, the Capitol, and other historic sites.
 Angel's former 5th grade teacher Tim Charoenying says that the experience truly changed his student's life. "The opportunity that Spoons gave these children is the stuff that new lives and hither-to undreamt of possibilities arise from," he says. "Angel today is a bright, happy child with a bright, happy future."
Angel says he now counts oranges, apples, strawberries and salad among his favorite foods, and he likes to cook. "I can make soup, hot dogs and scrambled eggs," he says proudly. Currently in 6th grade, Angel says his favorite subject is math and that he is contemplating becoming a professional wrestler when he grows up. Summing up an incredible year of meeting the Mayor, publishing a book and visiting the White House, Angel says, "It was a beautiful experience."
To the right is a poem Angel wrote for the book.
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The Dinner Party Project® Visits Lexington, MA
Lexington Farmers' Market is producing The Dinner Party Project this fall with 5th-graders from the Bridge School, a public elementary school in Lexington, Mass. More to come in our Fall issue of Spoons News.
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Chefs A'Field - Coming soon to a TV near you.
Keep your eyes open for the premiere of the third season of the award-winning television series, "Chefs A'Field: Kids on the Farm." The program follows some of America's top chefs and their own children, as they venture out to farms, ranches, fishing boats and restaurant kitchens in search of the best of fresh and regional American food.
Spoons Across America is proud to be the series' non-profit partner. In fact, our own Bill Telepan (Days of Taste volunteer) is featured in one episode along with his daughter, as they embark on a dairy adventure at Ronnybrook Farm in upstate New York. Chefs A'Field can be seen on PBS stations nationwide; check your local listings for details.
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Our Programs
The Dinner Party Project®
- 6 years of curriculum development and delivery of pilot programs in selected communities
- Serving 5,000 plus middle school children and their families in 25 cities across America
GreenMarket Tour Guides
- 2 years of program development and delivery with Greenmarket Farmers Market
- Serving 3,000 4th graders in NYC public schools
AIWF/NY Days of Taste®
- 6 years of program management for The American Institute of Wine & Food/NYC
- Reaching 10,000 4th graders in NYC public schools
NY Agriculture Literacy Day
- 1 year of program delivery in NYC with Cornell University-Ag in the Classroom
- Serving 400 2nd graders in NYC public schools
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
- 2004 curriculum development and delivery of pilot school program- On The Farm
- Serving 3rd graders in Westchester County and surrounding New York schools
Spoons Across America Website
- 3 years of administration of resources about food and nutrition education
- Serving thousands of teachers and families across the wide world web
Digital Arts Alliance
- 2007 collaboration with Pearson Foundation to teach visual literacy about food; 28 4th-graders at PS 282 in Brooklyn
Chefs A' Field: Kids on the Farm
- Public television series, Third season
- 2007 non-profit partner with Warner Hanson Television & KCT/PBS
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