February – Los Angeles, CA – Common Threads, a leading national nonprofit committed to fostering health and wellness through cooking and nutrition education, is proud to announce a transformative multi-year partnership with the Anahata Foundation, supported by a $220,000 grant over two years. Together, these organizations will leverage their shared commitment to advancing the “Food is Medicine” movement and creating generational health in underserved communities in Los Angeles and New York City.
This partnership will focus on Common Threads’ groundbreaking Kitchen Clinic and Chef-Led Small Bites programs, equipping students with the knowledge and tools to build healthier futures. By integrating culturally relevant, hands-on culinary education with actionable health insights, these programs empower youth to make informed choices about their diets and overall wellness.
“At Common Threads, we believe the kitchen is a classroom—a space where we learn to transform our health, fight disease, and thrive through the power of food,” said Linda Novick O’Keefe, CEO & Co-Founder of Common Threads. “Partnering with the Anahata Foundation allows us to deepen our impact in LA and NYC by addressing the root causes of chronic disease and health disparities. Together, we’re empowering young people to rewrite the narrative for their families and communities, one recipe at a time.”
Empowering Youth Through the Kitchen Clinic
The Kitchen Clinic program is at the heart of this partnership. Designed for high school students, the initiative blends hands-on cooking classes with nutrition education, focusing on how food can prevent and manage chronic conditions. By connecting the dots between culinary skills and health literacy, the program emphasizes that food truly is medicine.
“Taking the Kitchen Clinic class has been an amazing experience for me as a culinary arts student,” said a 12 grade Kitchen Clinic participant from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies. “I’ve learned so much about the medicinal properties of different foods and how they can help promote health and wellness. It’s exciting to understand how ingredients can be used not just to create delicious meals, but also to support wellbeing. This class has deepened my passion for cooking and inspired me to explore the powerful connection between food and health.”
The partnership will enable the expansion of Kitchen Clinics in both cities, delivering these essential life skills to more students and creating a ripple effect in their families and communities.
Savoring Health with Chef-Led Small Bites
Complementing the Kitchen Clinic program, the Chef-Led Small Bites initiative brings professional chefs into elementary and middle schools and community spaces to prepare simple, nutritious snacks while engaging students in conversations about the role of food in achieving optimal health. These vibrant, interactive sessions inspire students to explore healthy eating in a fun and approachable way.
Building Generational Health
The collaboration between Common Threads and the Anahata Foundation represents a bold step forward in addressing health inequities and laying the foundation for generational health. This partnership is deeply aligned with the vision and values of Mark Bertolini, a passionate advocate for holistic health and well-being. As the founder of the Anahata Foundation, Bertolini has long championed initiatives that address systemic inequities and empower individuals to lead healthier lives. His belief in the transformative power of education and community engagement is central to this collaboration.
“Partnering with Common Threads aligns perfectly with the Anahata Foundation’s mission of holistic health and healing,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Trustee of the Anahata Foundation. “We’re thrilled to support programs that not only educate but also inspire, helping young people and their families see food as a gateway to wellness.”
Through this collaboration, Common Threads and the Anahata Foundation aim to honor Bertolini’s legacy of innovation and compassion, creating pathways for youth to reimagine their relationships with food and health while building stronger, more resilient communities.
About Common Threads:
Common Threads is a national leader in enhancing community health through the power of nutrition and food. For over two decades, the nonprofit has been addressing the often-neglected connection between nutrition and overall well-being by providing nutrition education, cooking skills training, and food access.
Operating in-person and digitally, Common Threads has partnerships with over 2,200 schools, provided more than five million meals, and has positively impacted the long-term nutritional health of over one million individuals. From the nation’s largest public school districts in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago, to various community organizations and medical institutions, its efforts are widespread. For additional information, please visit commonthreads.org.
