A new program is teaching kids to cook while they also learn business and life skills.
Chef Jacki Corser and Erin Beland will soon interview middle and high school students for the second session of the free Youth Entrepreneur Program at the Arthur Lesow Community Center, 120 Eastchester St. in Monroe. The new session starts in the fall.
The first session began in January and is wrapping up this summer, when students will get a chance to grill and take the national ServSafe food safety test. Corser said the next session will have weekly themes, like savory, sweet, appetizers, small plates and charcuterie boards.
Corser studied and taught in Monroe County Community College’s former culinary program. She has a Master of Education degree in culinary and career and technical education from Wayne State University.
She previously taught at the ALCC and co-owned Monroe’s Public House restaurant, until moving to Indiana three years ago. Now, she’s back in Monroe and back at ALCC.
“I love our community. There’s no place like Monroe,” Corser said.
Last January, after getting grant funding, she launched the Youth Entrepreneur Program at ALCCC with Beland, a Health Hub specialist at the center.
“I designed the program with Erin. We’re really excited about it,” Corser said.
“We talk about the basics in cooking—weights and measures, cooking safety, how to read recipes—and moved up from there,” Corser said. “We picked recipes that are easy to understand and basic, to give them some confidence.”
Last session, students made desserts, sandwiches and full dinners.
“They learned how to cook with mom and dad working. ‘Think outside the box’ is what we preach. It’s so nice to know you can look in the refrigerator with chicken, veggies, cheese, whatever you have, and (create) an interesting dinner that everyone can love. They can do that,” Corser said.
The program also included a food challenge. The students prepared chicken parmesan.
“They made from scratch their own red sauce, baked and seasoned the chicken and made the garlic bread with an accompanying antipasto salad,” Corser said. “The dishes were rated on taste, food placement, the look of the overall plate served and temperature of the food items.”
But, the Youth Entrepreneur Program was about more than food.
“The whole objective was a culinary program, but it’s so much more than that. We want them to learn life skills, not just cooking skills,” Corser said. “We learned how to write resumes and run a small business. It’s math, communication skills, bonding, fellowship, love of the community. They learn how to depend on one another. We saw them become more of a family and were more invested in one another. They jumped in and helped one another.”
Corser said youths in grades 8-11 can take part in the next session.
“But, if someone is younger or older, they will be considered,” Corser said.
To learn more about the next session, call Erin Beland at the ALCC at 734-241-4313.
“We love our program. Everything is free. We supply all the food. At the ALCC, there’s no charge for any of the programs. Anyone can come,” Corser said. “We have so many programs offered (for all ages). (Kids) can come in and get involved in so many things: art, boxing, cooking. What a wonderful facility. It’s a zone that’s safe, supportive and loving.”
Other programs, offerings at the Arthur Lesow Community Center
Youth Entrepreneur Program is just one program offered at the ALCC. Manuel Hoskins, Opportunity Center director, said the ALCC offers several programs and offerings.
Health Hub:
Youth programs and mentoring:
Senior programs:
ALCC’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The center is closed Sundays.— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Kids can learn culinary, life and business skills in this new program
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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By Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
