Food has always been my language of love and connection. Growing up, I learned that the most important conversations happen around a table, and the most meaningful relationships are built while chopping vegetables side by side. My journey began in the kitchens of world renowned hotels - The Four Seasons and The Plaza - where I honed my craft as a pastry chef creating memorable experiences. But it was when I transitioned into education that I found my true calling.

 

For the past 30 years, I've been teaching, with 24 of those at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC. Teaching adults opened my eyes to something heartbreaking: so many students came to cooking as an escape. They hated their jobs, felt disconnected from their lives, and were seeking solace through food and cooking - trying to find joy and purpose they'd lost along the way. That's when I knew I had to reach younger people. For the last 8 years, I've been working with kids ages 8-17, determined to catch them "before it's too late." I wanted to teach them not just cooking techniques, but life skills, confidence, and the power of connection- before the world teaches them otherwise.

 

What I discovered was transformative. When we moved beyond traditional classroom learning and actually got our hands dirty - cooking meals for families, growing food together, sharing stories over shared plates - magic happened. Shy kids became leaders. Cynical teenagers found hope. Isolated young people discovered their tribe. The Gather Foundation was born from these moments and this mission. It's where my decades of culinary expertise meets my urgent belief that we must reach the next generation now - while their hearts are still open, while they still believe they can change the world. Through our programs, kids don't just volunteer - they lead. They don't just serve food -they build relationships. They don't just give back - they grow forward, developing the skills, confidence, and connections that will serve them for life.

 

Because here's what I know after 8 years of teaching kids and 30 years of teaching: when young people feel valued, supported, and given real responsibility, they don't just meet expectations - they exceed them. They become the changemakers our communities desperately need - before the world tells them otherwise. Every plate we serve, every meal we share, every young person we welcome to our table represents something bigger than a single act of service. It's an investment in preventing the disconnection I saw in so many adults, and nurturing the hope that already lives in every child.

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Ready to join us? There's always room at our table.