Spirit of Aloha Outreaches, Inc.

A Future and a Hope Culinary Arts Program
Area of Focus: Youth
Website: www.enewhope.org/ministries/soa/

A Future and a Hope Culinary Academy is an education intervention and alternative learning and training option for at-risk and special needs youth.  The culinary academy provides hands-on training and mentoring to students whose learning style has alienated them from the traditional educational process. 

The culinary academy offers a standards-based curriculum that provides DOE-approved academic credit toward high school graduation.  This includes classroom instruction in culinary arts using hands-on laboratory training in certified kitchens, and instruction in conventional academic core subjects delivered through demonstration application methods.  In 2007, the instructional time for the culinary arts academy was increased to 3.5 hours daily, which enhances the relationship building aspect of the program.  A credit recovery program that uses an interactive computer-based learning system was used, and students were able to gain credits in core subjects.  Students also prepared and served meals in community service activities and provided peer mentoring for elementary and middle school students.

The relationship-based intervention engages at-risk youth physically, mentally and spiritually.  Students gain self-confidence, new perspective and encouragement to make wise decisions in their academic, social and family lives.  Youth who would not have willingly crossed paths or become accountable to one another or to their teachers, begin to work side by side to accomplish a goal such as preparing food or catering.  For some, it provides their first experiences as team members.

The culinary academy is a well-developed model that is successful in intervening in the lives of students who are not learning through the traditional educational process.  Farrington High School’s principal is adopting it as a model for revamping education delivery at the school.