School of Hospitality, Common Threads making a difference in kids’ lives

Students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management are taking elementary school kids on a culinary trip around the world in an effort to enrich their lives. The 12-week program is a partnership between FIU and Common Threads, a non-profit founded by Oprah’s former personal chef.

By Martin Haro

Since mid-September, 32 bright, energetic students from W.J. Bryan Elementary and North Miami Elementary schools have been learning how to cook in the kitchen of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Biscayne Bay Campus.

No, they aren’t in an advanced-placement program at FIU, and a few of them probably didn’t even want to spend their afternoons once a week learning the ins and outs of a professional kitchen, let alone the finer points of Pad Thai. But that’s precisely what they’ve been doing: learning and enjoying learning how to cook healthy, international cuisine under the guidance of the school’s students and alumni and Miami’s own chef Michelle Bernstein.

Through December, the kids will learn how to prepare healthy meals and take a tour around the globe thanks to the 12-week program, a partnership between FIU and Common Threads, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 by Art Smith, Oprah Winfrey’s former personal chef.

In an e-mail a few weeks after our visit, Bernstein said she’s “relishing in the fact that we were able to bring our program to the university. The staff and students have embraced Common Threads and our little students. They have been unbelievably supportive and helpful.”

For the youngsters, it’s an opportunity to work in teams and collaborate in the preparation of a delicious meal – Pad Thai in Week 3, for instance.

They become engrossed by the experience, learning about safety in the kitchen and the culture of the country of the week. The children are involved from beginning to end, from the prep work to the (basic) cleanup. And, of course, their time at FIU is capped by a review of the day’s lesson shared over a hearty meal, the leftovers of which go home to mom and dad.

Jan Duemmling ’74, MS ’76 is a pre-K teacher at North Miami Elementary. She was struck by the knowledge and generosity of spirit of her fellow Panthers.

“I’m very impressed by how good the FIU students are with the kids,” she said. “They really get the kids involved and share what they know, teaching them the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon or the temperature of boiling water. They make this a great experience for the kids.”