Interactions with children facing food insecurity forced me to think about nutrition beyond myself. As a result, I applied to the Dragon Kim Foundation, a social entrepreneurship incubator. I then founded My Tasty Table, and was awarded a grant to launch my charitable organization. My Tasty Table’s mission was two-fold; educate children on how to cook healthy plant-based meals and impart the benefits of making healthier dietary choices. I developed a curriculum, marketed the organization, fundraised, and expanded My Tasty Table to two additional youth centers. I secured eight community partners, created a Teen Leadership Board, and recruited a team of 22 volunteers. We held over 30 free cooking classes throughout Phoenix, Arizona, reaching over 450 young people. We focused on creating recipes that cost less than $4 per serving, with the goal of making these meals accessible even after they left the classroom. We created recipes such as vegan sushi, vegan chili, vegan gumbo, carrot ginger salad, vegan oat strawberry pancakes, chickpea chocolate truffles, black bean brownies, and energy bits made with sunflower butter and oats. Looking ahead I plan to pursue a medical career with an emphasis on food-based medicine.
Support Young Veg Activists
To send support for additional scholarships and internships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate or call (410) 366-8343. You can also send a donation to VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.
Do you know an amazing high school student who promoted veganism? If so, let them know about our annual scholarship contest. The deadline for high school seniors is February 20th of each year. To see scholarship rules and past winners, visit www.vrg.org/student/scholar