Pupusas & Presentations
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At Hola Cultura’s summer research presentation tomorrow afternoon, we’re serving pupusas made by the Latin American Youth Center’s Culinary Arts program. Join us for this free event!
Over the years that Hola Cultura has researched the history of Latinos in Washington D.C., the murals created by teenagers and young adults at the Latin American Youth Center have enriched our city. LAYC was the prime mover behind much of the District’s most enduring and beloved street art including the Unity Mural, a focus of Hola Cultura’s research this summer. So we’re excited to partner with LAYC as our featured cooks at tomorrow’s presentation.
Like Hola Cultura, the Latin American Youth Center works with young people enrolled in the District’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The group of SYEP aspiring chefs cooking for us tomorrow are in a LAYC program that engages the culinary arts to teach how to make a variety of cultural dishes using produce from the organization’s own garden.
Julia Kann, LAYC’s Food & Nutrition Program manager, hopes her SYEP youth have fun while learning skills useful inside and outside of the kitchen.
She says she hopes they learn the “hard skills” involved in cooking, as well as “soft skills, such as teamwork, leadership, “how to step up” and “how to step back” to make sure everyone is heard.
Kenneth and Myla tending LAYC’s garden. (Photos courtesy of LAYC)
Kiara and J’lin are two more member’s of LAYC’s Culinary Arts program this summer.
Guest chefs from diverse backgrounds work with the youth each week, exposing them to a variety of cultures that have enriched D.C. historically, such as Salvadoran, Indian, and Ethiopian culture and cuisine. The young people enrolled in the program say it’s mostly been a fun and educational experience. The program has taught them about healthier lifestyles and choices.
“I’ve tried a lot of new things that I never thought I would try before. It pushes you out of your comfort zone to try a lot of new stuff,” says Jonae Goode, 17.
Besides exposure to different cuisines, she says she learned to read the back of food labels to check nutritional value. “I never thought to do that until I came here…It opened my eyes to read the back of everything that I eat now.”
Another program participant named D’Andre says he enjoys eating the food the group makes.
“They teach you how to cook your favorite food, but at the same time, make it healthy for you,” he says. Besides learning how to cook healthier recipes, he says he’s enjoyed making new friends this summer.
“Food is a real unifier. It brings people together,” Kann adds.
Please join us Tuesday to enjoy the pupupas made by LAYC’s blossoming chefs and hear from HC’s blossoming scholars about the stories of the Unity Mural and the history of Latino Adams Morgan! This free event takes place at the Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Road, NW, in Adams Morgan, on July 24, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. RSVP here
On Sunday, July 29 at 1:30 pm, Hola Cultura will also host a free walking tour of D.C,’s Latino murals! For more information, get the details and RSVP here.
Read more about LAYC’s summer program here.
-Gisell Ramírez and Jasmin Avila
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