We engage 4th-8th grade youth (ages 9 – 14) through after-school and in-school programs, spring break and summer camps, and evening cooking classes. Programs are curriculum-based with a progression from basic food knowledge to advanced gardening and cooking skills. We also enhance learning opportunities by interweaving food growing and cooking with academic subjects such as math, science, and history. For example, youth may practice baking skills while learning about the science of liquids and solids. A snack and/or lunch are provided during programming and students often are able to take home a sample of what they cooked, as well as vegetables from the garden.

We often work closely with partner organizations and customize programs to fit the needs of our partners. Some of our current partners include Madrona K-8, Washington Middle School, Atlantic Street Center, Mary’s Place, Friends of the Children, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Beacon Hill International, and many others.

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In 2011,  Green Plate Special was founded by a Chef Entrepreneur with its mission to inspire and empower youth to experience food in new ways through growing, cooking and eating together.

This approach inspired a focus on weaving together culninary, cooking education and child psychology principals and best practices to establish a nonprofit for middle school youth…..

With a vision for equity and social justice around food and health combined with the joy of cooking, teaching young people, and an interest in growing food Green Plate Special was formed.

Bringing forward an audacious belief that healthy food for everyone was absolutely necessary for all people in our communities and our country to flourish (not a NEW concept). This would be carried out by youth of middle school age (9-14), whose interest and enthusiasm for these basic life skills would be piqued by their love of eating, and the opportunity to stretch their boundaries with elastic and open minds.

Thus, Green Plate Special was born from this vision.