18 Reasons

Join our Volunteer Appreciation Potluck at 18th St. Kitchen! Volunteers are a core part of our 18 Reasons community and we are so grateful to have such amazing individuals supporting our mission! Both new and returning volunteers are invited to join us for an enjoyable evening of light bites and mingling. We look forward to seeing you on June 18th! Interested in volunteering? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gaQwYAtN RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gdwVgWRu

We're hiring #AmeriCorps Program Coordinators! See below for more information to and to apply ⤵ Our core values: https://lnkd.in/gv7wWNxJ Career opportunities: https://lnkd.in/gVQXhjmD #hiring #careeropportunities #community

Our new video debuted at Master Chefs At Home on Wednesday! We're on a mission to inspire our community with the confidence and creativity to buy, cook, and eat good food every day. See how our programs are changing lives through home cooking - and by creating connections around the table 💙 We are so grateful for all of our wonderful community partners, and for everyone that has shared a meal with us! Featured: Sarah Nelson, Executive Director, 18 Reasons sam mogannam, Founder & Owner, Bi-Rite Family of Businesses Ben Goff, Garden and Cooking Program Supervisor, BERKELEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Rob Rosen, 18th Street Kitchen Student Erika Velasquez-Lopez, Program Coordinator, 18 Reasons Video by Saul Santell and Jeff Pizzo at NEW CHAPTER Creative Studio https://newchapter.studio/ https://lnkd.in/gDD_PcnT

18 Reasons is celebrating Mother's Day in partnership with our free community program, Nourishing Pregnancy! Support our program by giving the gift of community, grocery donations, and cooking education to new parents. Over 16 weeks, participants take prenatal cooking and nutrition education classes, postpartum support classes, and build relationships and support networks that will last beyond pregnancy. All participants receive free groceries for the duration of the program, which can significantly offset food insecurity during those vulnerable months. This Mother’s Day, we’re sharing how we support new birthers through our program on Instagram and Facebook. Join us by donating to Nourishing Pregnancy and sharing who you celebrate this Mother's Day in your donation note. All donations support Nourishing Pregnancy birthers. Support our programming today: https://lnkd.in/gigH2eZt Learn more about Nourishing Pregnancy here: https://lnkd.in/gvNQqG9b Follow us on Instagram: https://lnkd.in/grM6xxkS Follow us on Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gB4YqpE4

There are still a few tickets available for next Wednesday's incredibly delicious event. Hope you'll join us to help support the impactful work 18 Reasons is doing to address food insecurity and improve health. https://lnkd.in/dekMhGVC

We're hiring a Director of Development & Communications! See below for more information to and to apply ⤵ Our core values: https://lnkd.in/gv7wWNxJ Career opportunities: https://lnkd.in/gVQXhjmD #hiring #careeropportunities #community

Announcing our Master Chefs At Home Panelists! During the family-style dinner, we'll be hosting a panel discussion that explores how home cooking connects to culture, family, and community. Moderated by Elise Hayashi, our panelists bring unique perspectives from their own lives and our many cooking and nutrition education programs. ✨ 18th Street Kitchen chef Linda Tay Esposito's food represents a tribute and a commitment to the authenticity of the cuisines of the Pacific Rim. Outside of teaching, Linda is a food business consultant with a focus on placemaking and building equitable food systems through the intersectional lens of food, sustainability and equity. In her free time, she plants hard-to-find Asian herbs at the community garden at Fort Mason. ✨ Ana Villalobos has been a long-time Peer Health Educator with our Cooking Matters program and works as a Health Education Specialist with Contra Costa Health Services. For the past 16 years Ana has devoted her work to serve communities in need, promoting culturally appropriate health education trainings that help and support professional development among community members and leaders also known as Health Promoters, empowering them to believe positive changes are possible and doable! ✨ Teyler Wallace is a holistic chef, urban farmer, certified postpartum doula (CPD), founder of The Foodie Doula, and founder of the Doula For The People nonprofit. A maternal care specialist with our Nourishing Pregnancy program, Teyler deeply believes that birthing people should universally have access to nutrient-rich food, and holistic postpartum doula support. She believes that uprooting systemic oppression begins with uplifting and empowering women, children, marginalized communities, and families. Join us for an enlightening conversation you won't want to miss! https://lnkd.in/gQzF286e

Our spring gala is your Passport to Flavor! Join us on May 15th from 6:00-9:30pm at the San Francisco Design Center for an evening of international cuisine and support for 18 Reasons' free community programs. The night begins with a chic cocktail party — a live band provides the soundtrack for your voyage between interactive appetizer and cocktail stations featuring global flavors of home cooking. Sit down for a family-style feast, and hear inspiring stories of how 18 Reasons is changing lives across the Bay Area. Funds raised from the gala help support free cooking and nutrition education in our community. Get your ticket today! https://lnkd.in/dekMhGVC

Meet Mercedes, an integral member of our Cooking Matters program! Mercedes journeyed from a participant to peer health educator and now coordinator. While Mercedes has long been engaged with the Latinx community through her public health outreach at Mission Economic Development Agency, Cooking Matters has given her a new opportunity to empower others through food. One of her greatest joys in Cooking Matters is to share the belief that “we can have a healthy meal with a small budget.” Mercedes’s infectious enthusiasm creates inclusive class experiences where participants share ideas and collaborate. She is profoundly motivated by the positive impact the program has on participants. For Mercedes, “It’s not just a job; I feel very motivated because I see the impact it makes.” Among her favorite memories are overcoming language barriers and nerves with a new group of participants at Richmond High School. Mercedes said that collaborating with the 18 Reasons team played a crucial role in building her confidence to coordinate classes, and affirmed her joy at being a part of the Cooking Matters Program. If Mercedes’s journey inspires you, come volunteer with us! You can help create a healthier, more connected community. Learn more about 18 Reasons volunteer opportunities here: https://lnkd.in/g5--H7n