The Nourishian Training is a life skills training for young people ages 16-21.

Earn money while learning life skills:

• Cooking
• Financial literacy
• Mental health tools
• Growing food
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Community building

Earn $2,500 for full participation. High School students can earn 20 community service hours.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Nourishian Training is a life skills training for young people ages 16-21, offered as a summer intensive program over 6 weeks, July 8 – Aug 14, 2024. The program will engage a cohort of 10 students through experiential learning in an outdoor classroom and kitchen located at the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetland. The program is designed to provide young people critical skills and body awareness that support their holistic health through meal planning & budgeting, cooking skills, gardening, financial literacy, and mental health tools. The goal of the Nourishian Training program is to promote individual health and community wellness through self-efficacy, nurturing relationships, and cultural expression.

The program is 4 days per week (M-Th), 9am – 3pm, and includes weekly field trips, guest speakers, and guest cooks representing different cultures. Students will be provided weekly boxes of seasonal produce from local BIPOC farms to take home and practice cooking at home. The last day will be a final celebration to highlight the students’ accomplishments through a community meal and an opportunity for students to teach forward what they learned in the program.

The Nourishian Training Program idea came from the UCC’s program director, Leika Suzumura, listening to community members in Rainier Valley over the last 15 years providing nutrition education to the community. She heard youth from the Rainier Beach High School after school cooking club share how important it was to learn how to cook for themselves and how it was missing in their school curriculum. She heard parents of young children acknowledge their lack of skill to prepare meals and the challenge of shopping on a limited budget. Participants reported the desire for peer education around food and nutrition that felt relevant to their lifestyles and culture. This program is a dream come true and we are so honored to pilot our first cohort this summer!