The Youth Black Excellence (BE) Program, led by Mad Local Food Group, provided cooking classes and local meal kits to over 280 youth and families across Dane, Racine, and Milwaukee counties. Through two four-week sessions, participants in 57 schools and 12 WECA early childhood sites received meal kits featuring Wisconsin-grown produce and joined virtual classes led by Black chefs and food leaders. Lessons included kitchen science, local food systems, and culinary history. Survey results showed 100% of participants felt more connected to where their food comes from and more confident cooking with vegetables. The program emphasized food access, student engagement, and culturally relevant education. Grant funds also supported development of scalable recipes and curriculum for broader institutional use, with plans underway to digitize and share these materials statewide.
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