Blog

Reflecting on the past two decades as the CEO and Founder of Common Threads, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and a profound sense of accomplishment. What began as a simple idea, a belief in the transformative power of food education, has evolved into a thriving...

On Monday, August 8, Common Threads hosted a Community Top Chef cooking competition in Los Angeles. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, this event celebrated the upcoming launch of Common Threads’ High School Career Exploration pilot program, a collaboration with LAUSD, Susan Miller Dorsey High School, and Chef Sonja Mason.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it is time to give thanks and gather with our loved ones! Food is one of the most important traditions during Thanksgiving, with many families selecting dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green beans for their meal. Other families incorporate dishes from their family or cultural heritage for this special occasion.

In late October, Common Threads teamed up with local leaders to hold a virtual panel discussion focused on nutrition equity in South Florida. Common Threads Co-Founder and CEO Linda Novick O’Keefe led a discussion with two Miami-Dade County School principals, the CEO of the area’s largest food bank, and three elected officials representing various South Florida communities.

To help meet new and emerging needs of school communities during and after the pandemic, historic levels of federal funding for K-12 schools and districts are available through the American Rescue Plan’s ESSER (Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds. These dollars can be used to support schools with re-opening, to enhance COVID-19 safety protocols, and to support broad-ranging student services.

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional holiday first practiced thousand of years ago by indigenous people such as the Aztecs and the Toltecs. They didn’t consider death the end of one’s existence but simply another chapter of life. Rather than grieve for their dead, ancient Mexicans celebrated the lives of the deceased and honored their memories. During Dia de los Muertos, observed October 31 – November 2, they believed that the dead had a brief window to leave the spirit realm and visit their loved ones in the mortal world.

Schools have reopened, but the pandemic has not ended. In the past year, Common Threads offered virtual nutrition education classes to thousands of students across the country. After a program evaluation, the Research & Evaluation team identified how students benefited from participating in these e-lessons.

Fall into healthy habits this season by practicing mindful eating. So what is mindful eating? Mindful eating is not a diet, and there are no rules or menus. Mindful eating refers to applying mindfulness techniques to eating.

September 15th-October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month, and Common Threads wants to acknowledge the impact of Hispanic-Americans on nutrition and education. It is important to note the difference between the terms “Hispanic,” and “Latinx.”

It’s easy to get into a rut when it comes to your weekly meals. One easy way to keep things interesting is by switching up your proteins! Red meat has faced some criticism in the media, but in reality, red meat can be a great addition to a nutritious, balanced diet. Below is some insight on the nutritional benefits and cultural relevance of pork, and some recipe ideas.

Eating breakfast daily is important for everyone, especially kids! Eating in the morning after a night’s sleep will provide energy to the brain since the body has been fasting overnight. Evidence supports that eating breakfast in the morning has positive health outcomes in terms of improved satiety and appetite control, weight management, and the reduced risk of chronic disease.

Picky eating is normal. Yes! It’s normal! It is believed that picky eating, which can get progressively worse from ages 2 to 6, is a normal survival trait that our ancestors benefited from in order to survive. It makes sense. Having fear of trying new foods saved many from being poisoned. Picky eating also occurs because children are exploring their freedom to make their own choices. It is an independence thing.

SoFlo Health, a local weekly health and wellness show produced by WPLG-Local 10 (Miami’s ABC affiliate) shot a few segments with members of Common Threads’ Miami team, including Chef Instructor Mariano Mercado and Chef Instructor Mimi Chacin

After seven years of working in the culinary industry, Vicky AuYeung was seeking to be a part of an organization whose main focus was to bring people together from local communities through food. With that focus, she found a job opportunity at Common Threads as a New York based chef instructor.

Shawanna Kennedy traces her path to teaching culinary arts and nutrition education back to her grandmother’s kitchen. She studied psychology at Southern Illinois University and began working in the mental health field, but found her way to Common Threads after meeting co-founder Chef Art Smith.

Common Threads has developed a complete summer reading list that incorporates books about healthy lifestyle choices, growing a garden, and foods from different cultures! Try reading these books with your child to experience the important life lessons food teaches, from cultural acceptance to self care.

Eating well can be one of the most important things that people can do for their overall health and wellness, yet the unfortunate reality is that so many people don’t have access to or the knowledge on how to create nutritious and delicious meals for themselves and their families. Read more to learn about a collaboration to change one school.

PRESS RELEASE: In advance of the upcoming academic year, the national nonprofit Common Threads is offering a free two-day virtual Wellness Summit for teachers and after-school educators, July 13 and 14.

Common Threads, a national nonprofit organization that provides cooking and nutrition education to children in under-resourced communities with a focus on cultural diversity, today announced the appointment of Anita Lo, a Michelin star chef, to its national board of directors.

Health equity has taken on a new importance since the COVID pandemic struck the world more than a year and a half ago. Chicago, a city with a notable racial life expectancy gap when comparing White and majority minority communities, also faced disproportionate COVID morbidity rates among Black and Latinx populations, as well as some Asian communities.

Summer is typically a two or three month break for students to relax, recuperate, and make memories with friends and family. Children learn to develop social skills, creativity and friends all during the summertime. But for some families and children, the break can be a more stressful time than the school year itself. Many families struggle to keep their children healthy and occupied during the summer break due to a number of factors.

Summer time is upon us and keeping kids energized and hydrated for summer can be a lot of work! Having healthy snacks on hand helps keep kids fueled and satisfies hunger in between meals. Snacks also provide additional nutrients kids need for proper development and growth.

It’s been very difficult for me to watch the recent outpouring of hate in cities across the world in recent weeks, including acts of antisemitism and airstrikes and brutal violence against Gazan civilians and other civilians in occupied Palestinian territories.

Summer is almost here, and with the warmer weather comes a desire for families to take vacations and enjoy new foods. Unfortunately for many families, summer means loss of reliable access to food and challenges with children experiencing the “summer slide” or loss of academic progress made during the school year.

While Common Threads’ food philosophy prioritizes fresh ingredients and simple recipes, we also have the privilege of partnering with companies who are on the vanguard of food science technology. Companies like DouxMatok and Griffith Foods are developing technologies and innovations that will help people maintain a healthy diet while staying excited about the options available.

Like many people across our country, we were relieved to see the guilty verdicts in the trial of Derek Chauvin earlier this week. This was an important step in calling for accountability from members of the law enforcement community and seeking justice for George Floyd and the many other Black men, women and children who have been murdered or harmed in incidents motivated by race …

Gardens come in all shapes and sizes and all you need is a warm and sunny spot, water, and a little love! This month we are going to explore the many different and approachable ways you start growing produce plants at home!

Plant-based or plant-forward meals focus on using ingredients that come from plants and limiting or excluding animal products. Plant-based foods include not only fruits and vegetables, but beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. There are many reasons why people choose plant-based meals: health benefits, sustainability, animal welfare, cost, and of course, taste.

What kind of humans do we want our youngsters to be upon graduation? If you can think about social-emotional learning (SEL) from this perspective, it’s easier to imagine integrating it into our teaching practices and personal lives.

Common Threads will continue to raise awareness for social justice, work toward solutions to inspire change, and create safe spaces for children and families in our community.

This week we will explore sources of fruits and vegetables, nutrition and health benefits, fun ways to incorporate and personalize your plate with fruits and veggies. It’s something we hear all the time, eat your fruits and vegetables! But do you know why they are so important?

Let’s explore sources of whole grains, nutrition and health considerations, and ways to personalize your plate with whole grains. What makes a grain a “whole grain”? All grains are considered whole until they are processed in some way.

Common Threads, a national nonprofit organization that provides cooking and nutrition education to children in under-resourced communities, today announced the appointment of Edwin McDonald IV M.D., assistant professor of medicine and associate clinical director of Adult Clinical Nutrition for University of Chicago Medicine, to its national board of directors.

Making healthy dietary choices can help you feel your best and stay active. It can also help you lower your risk of developing some health conditions. But—even though there seems to be an endless supply of information out there about nutrition—it’s not always easy to know what foods are best for you.

This week we will explore sources of protein, including nutrition and health considerations, cooking methods, and ways to personalize your plate with proteins.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to acknowledge the role of women in history. Women have shaped all industries and especially the culinary, nutrition and health fields. Even a month of celebration falls short of recognizing such immense contributions to the world, but Common Threads wants to commemorate some of the most impactful women in cooking. These inspiring leaders have found their passion in food, and with that, changed the world.

As part of Common Threads’ ongoing diversity, equity & inclusion programming, the organization held a Know & Grow workshop in December focused on how to best engage with people with developmental disabilities. The session was led by Natalia Wong, executive director of the WOW Center in Miami, a nonprofit that serves over 200 adults with developmental disabilities, offering programs such as music therapy, art, and educational studies.

We all love a good home cooked meal and the rich savory flavors from Southern cuisine. In celebration of Black History Month, we are exploring the history of some of the South’s most popular foods. Join us as we give them a healthy twist while honoring their origin and tradition.

To help address unprecedented hunger and food insecurity that families continue to face as a result of COVID-19, Common Threads teamed up with its partners in Austin and Pittsburgh to provide food distribution just in time for the holidays.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits have had to shift their fundraising strategies, knowing they don’t have as many tools in their arsenal as they did about a year ago.

Holidays are a time to come together at the table and celebrate traditions with family and food. While the holiday celebrations may be different this year, food is still the common thread that brings us all to the table, whether it’s in-person or virtually.

Common Threads is a national nonprofit that is providing virtual cooking and nutrition education programming during COVID-19 to help families in under-resourced communities make healthy and affordable food decisions in the grocery store, kitchen, and dinner table.

Thanksgiving in 2020 was a paradox in many ways, but a Common Threads dream team came together to prove that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Common Threads partner The Advisory Committee of Liberty City Youth (TACOLCY) teamed up with Miami-based Holmes Elementary School and Common Threads supporter, Wild Fork Foods, to host a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway benefiting Liberty City families and community.

Explore our fall menu of recipes, featuring our favorite seasonal fruits and vegetables and incorporating budget friendly pantry staples. These are great options for your Thanksgiving meal or any day and your comfort cravings will be satisfied!

COVID-19 has transformed education, challenging educators to think differently about how to reach students. Throughout the pandemic, teachers have reported varying levels of success with the move to virtual learning.

It’s soup season! Indulge in our favorite fall comfort food with healthy soups, chilis, and stews. Our favorite recipes are “souper” easy to make and with a few tricks and treats can be a “souptacular” dish for a chilly fall day. Follow our easy ABC tips for cooking up a healthy bowl of soup.

Halloween may be different this year, but we can still keep the sweet, healthy, and fun! There’s tons of different ways to celebrate this Halloween is a safe and socially distanced way. Try our easy, kid-friendly, and festive recipes and bring the fun of Halloween to your own kitchen.

By Common Threads | Oct 16, 2020 Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 is the 75th celebration of World Food Day, a global day organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This year, Common Threads is helping families in need by highlighting resources and...

By Common Threads | Oct 14, 2020 Food community lends its voice to promote wellness on Friday, Oct. 16 AUSTIN (Oct. 13, 2020) - COVID-19 has had a profound impact on communities across the country, with one in five American families facing food insecurity, according...

By Common Threads | Oct 8, 2020 By Shana Alford A day in the life of Stella Yi Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, ranges from engaging New York City community residents in research...

By Common Threads | Sept 28, 2020 More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic as families have coped with health issues, job losses, virtual education and food insecurity, institutions such as government agencies, school districts and nonprofit organizations have...

By Common Threads | Sept 30, 2020 Common Threads interviewed a few parents and educators about their experiences with virtual learning, food acquisition and meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In this interview, Diana Morales from Houston shares her perspective on...

By Common Threads | Sept 16, 2020 By: Lucette Talamas Lucette Talamas, MS, LDN, registered dietitian with Baptist Health South Florida and a Common Threads Miami board member, shares her recipe for healthy homemade flour tortillas. Stuff these delicious South American...

By Common Threads | Sept 16, 2020 September is National Family Meals Month™, an initiative launched by FMI Foundation in 2015 to raise awareness of the lifelong benefits gained when families share meals together. What started as a grassroots initiative five years ago...

By Common Threads | Sept 8, 2020 Beyond providing space for everything ranging from blue sky thinking to brass tacks planning, staff retreats (often referred to as “all hands” meetings) can serve as an opportunity for culture building by bringing the entire team...

By Common Threads | Sept 4, 2020 Partnerships include food distribution initiatives in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh. AUSTIN | April 13, 2020 (Updated Sept. 3, 2020) – To address food insecurity communities are facing in the...

By Common Threads | Aug 28, 2020Earlier this month, Common Threads’ Chicago board and long time Common Threads supporting partner, The Chopping Block, co-hosted a live stream, interactive cooking class in support of Common Threads’ Back to School Campaign. Common...

By Common Threads | Aug 26, 2020 Elizabeth Halle, a member of Common Threads' Miami board loves one of Spain's classic dishes, the Tortilla Española. In this special blog, she shares her experiences of enjoying Tortilla Española during her travels, and now at home...

By Common Threads | Aug 18, 2020 An interview and discussion with Yvonne Wang-Silonga of New York By Letty Salas & Julia ChantAug. 18, 2020 Common Threads recently had the opportunity to sit down with parent Yvonne Wang-Silonga for an interview regarding how her...

By Common Threads | Aug 14, 2020 An interview and discussion with Antoniette DiGregorio, P.S. 88 The Seneca School By Shana AlfordAug. 14, 2020 As schools reopen this fall – often with a continuation of virtual education – Common Threads will be featuring educators...

By Common Threads | Aug 11, 2020 Four Black physicians and public health experts share their perspectives on how communities can achieve health equity, particularly as communities grapple with COVID-19 pandemic To help communities better understand the health...

By Common Threads | Aug 11, 2020 The Common Threads team is made up of dedicated staff who are aligning their personal passions with their professional careers. In this interview, we’re showcasing Vice President of Programs Stephanie Folkens’ journey from volunteer to...

By Common Threads | Aug 12, 2020 By Mimi Chacin Aug. 6, 2020 - The Coronavirus pandemic has affected virtually every aspect of life and society. At a time when nonprofits are among the most needed, they too are among the most impacted. However, the innate steadfast...

By Common Threads | Aug 4, 2020 The Common Threads team is made up of dedicated staff who are aligning their personal passions with their professional careers. In this interview, we’re showcasing Associate Director of Programs James Bell’s journey from volunteer to...

By Common Threads | Jul 24, 2020 Miami Herald opinion article from Co-Founder & CEO Linda Novick O'KeefeThe recent surge of COVID-19 cases, coupled with the looming expiration of federal benefits programs, mean many families are worried about the future.Common Threads...

By Common Threads | Jul 16, 2020 Common Threads has invited individuals from its network to share their perspectives on recent events. In this blog, Chef Bill Kim (chef/owner of urbanbelly and executive chef of Crate and Barrel’s Table at Crate) documents his thoughts...

By Common Threads | Jul 15, 2020 Camp to feature cooking lessons from celebrity chefs plus sessions for physical activity, mindfulness and more To help students and families mitigate the “summer slide,” Common Threads is offering a free, two-week virtual summer camp...

By Common Threads | Jul 7, 2020 Common Threads has invited individuals from its network to share their perspectives on recent events. In this blog, Chef Anita Lo from New York documents her thoughts on COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how the restaurant...

By Common Threads | Jul 6, 2020 Cooking & nutrition education nonprofit will use two-year grant to begin sourcing food from urban farms for Chicago programs Chicago | July 6, 2020 – Common Threads, a nonprofit organization that provides hands-on, cooking and...

By Common Threads | Jul 1, 2020 Like families and organizations across the country, Common Threads is rapidly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic — and we need your help.Many of the communities in which we work will be especially vulnerable to the repercussions of the...