The Sylvia Center

Look who stopped by our cooking class 👀👨‍🍳 Yesterday, we had the incredible @jamieoliver drop into The Sylvia Center's middle-school cooking class at @connellycenter on the Lower East Side—rolling up his sleeves and cooking right alongside our incredible students and Chef Educator Carson. Together they made a plant-based stir-fry while practicing the Jamie Oliver 10 Skills—the everyday culinary skills program that empowers young people to cook with confidence, and make healthier choices as they grow up. Big energy. Big learning. Big smiles. Thanks for spending the afternoon with us, Jamie! And for helping show what hands-on food education can look like when it’s rooted in joy and possibility 💚 #SylviaCenter #JamieOliver #FoodEducation #jamies10skills #keepingcookingskillsalive #CookingIsALifeSkill #HealthyFutures

Nutrition advice will always be complex—but our approach is straightforward. For more than 18 years, we've been teaching young people and families how to cook with whole, real foods. Our research-based programs focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and plant-based proteins, while limiting added sugar, sodium, and ultra-processed foods—because that’s what scientific evidence indicates support health and long-term well-being. We're steadfast in our commitment to providing hands-on cooking, culturally responsive recipes, and making nourishing food something students enjoy and can access. Check out our annual report to see our impact in action! /sylviacenter/docs/the_sylvia_center_2024-2025_annual_report #FoodEducation #FoodEquity #WholeFoods #CookingForHealth #NutritionEducation #KidsWhoCook #CommunityHealth #PlantForward

It’s here! Our 2024–25 Annual Report is live. 📘✨ This year, thousands of young people stepped into our kitchens and discovered something powerful—not just how to cook, but how to take care of themselves, their families, and their futures. Inside, you’ll meet five incredible young leaders—Khady, Nate, Sam, Johnathan, and Destiny—whose stories show how food education can transform confidence, opportunity, and lifelong habits. You’ll also see why this work matters more than ever: rising food costs, unequal access to healthy ingredients, and the reality that food education is still missing from too many schools. Food education isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Tap the link in our bio to explore the full 2024–25 Annual Report, or copy and paste this link into your browser: /sylviacenter/docs/the_sylvia_center_2024-2025_annual_report 💛 #YouthCooking #FoodEducation #NutritionEducation #HealthyCommunities #NonprofitNYC #AnnualReport #TheSylviaCenter

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month shows up in our classes through the ingredients we cook, the recipes we explore, and the cultural food traditions students bring into our kitchens every day. Across our programs, young people cook dishes connected to cultures throughout Asia and the Pacific while building practical culinary and nutrition skills. These meals open conversations about migration, agriculture, family traditions, identity, and community, while reinforcing that heritage foods can absolutely be healthy, nourishing, and relevant to everyday life. Today, students at one of @grandstsettlement sites are taking part in the annual AAPI Cook-Off, creating dishes inspired by Hawaii, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. We focus on culinary diversity because students engage more deeply when they see themselves reflected in the food they cook—and because food education should make space for the histories, experiences, and traditions that shape our communities. Food is memory. Food is connection. Food is culture. #AAPIHeritageMonth #FoodEducation #CulturalFoodways #NutritionEducation #HandsOnLearning #TheSylviaCenter

Save the date 🌱 Adult Farm Camp is returning to Katchkie Farm on August 13 + 14 for our second summer of gardening, cooking, learning, and sharing meals together in the Learning Garden. Last year’s campers harvested vegetables straight from the soil, cooked together in the outdoor pavilion, learned practical gardening skills, and left with fresh produce, new confidence, and muddy shoes. No expertise required—just curiosity, community, and a willingness to get your hands dirty. More details coming soon. In the meantime, take a look back at last year’s camp through the link in bio 💚 #TheSylviaCenter #AdultFarmCamp #KatchkieFarm #FoodEducation #GardenToTable

Huge thank you to the team from @foodmatchdivina who rode in this year’s TD Five Boro Bike Tour with @bikenewyork in support of The Sylvia Center 🚲 The weather may have been cold and rainy, but spirits stayed high all day long. We’re so grateful for their energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to supporting hands-on food education for young people. Thanks for riding with us, team 💚 #TDFiveBoroBikeTour #FiveBoroBikeTour #BikeNY #RideForACause #TheSylviaCenter #FoodEducation #CommunitySupport #NYCNonprofit #HandsOnLearning #FoodJustice #CookingEducation #RideForGood

From classroom to community leaders 💚 After taking part in our fall Cooks for Health program at M. Clifford Miller Middle School in Kingston, the Miller Mindful Mustangs invited Chef Leo and Upstate Programs Manager Molly back for their annual outdoor science fair: Science Night Out. At the TSC booth, students taught visitors about leavening using egg whites and carbonated water, then cooked kimchi pancakes to order for a very enthusiastic crowd (many came back for seconds). One of the best parts of this work is seeing students step confidently into teaching, sharing, and leading—using food as a way to connect science, culture, and community. Go Mindful Mustangs! 💪 #TheSylviaCenter #FoodEducation #HandsOnLearning #KingstonNY #CookingEducation

It’s almost May—one of the busiest times of year in the garden 🌱 Join us at @katchkiefarm for a hands-on garden consulting session with our Learning Garden Manager, Julie Cerny. Bring your questions about seeding, garden prep, and planting—we’ll walk the garden together and help you get growing this season. 📅 Friday, May 15 🕒 3:30–5:00 PM 📍 Learning Garden @ Katchkie Farm Free to attend, but space is limited. Email Julie at [email protected] to register.

What does an inclusive classroom actually look like? This month, our Chef Educators joined a PD with @ramapoforchildren to dig into that question—focusing on how we support students with a range of learning, emotional, and physical needs. One big takeaway: variability isn’t the exception—it’s the norm. Every class brings a mix of needs, and strong teaching starts with planning for that from the beginning. We focused on expectations—how we set them, communicate them, and reinforce them. Not just what we’re asking students to do, but making sure they understand why it matters and how to succeed. Because clear, consistent expectations—paired with visuals, routines, and repetition—don’t limit a classroom. They make it more accessible, more engaging, and easier for every student to participate. Huge thanks to our educators for showing up ready to think deeply about their classrooms—and to the William T. Grant Foundation for supporting this work. #TheSylviaCenter #ChefBrainPD #FoodEducation #InclusiveClassrooms #EducatorPD #TeachingCooking #NutritionEducation #HandsOnLearning #ExperientialLearning

Chopped: Hillcrest High School edition 🔥 Our Teen Culinary Apprenticeship students took on a mystery basket challenge last week—using mango, plain yogurt, chickpeas, and cornflakes—and the results were *incredible*. From cornflake-crusted falafel to mango boats to coconut-yogurt sauce, these students didn’t just cook—they problem-solved, collaborated, and created dishes full of flavor and technique. This is what happens when young people are given the tools, space, and support to lead in the kitchen. Huge shoutout to the winning team for their creative and delicious dish—cornflake-crusted falafel with curry rice, mango ceviche and coconut sauce—and to Chef Educator Will for making it happen 👏 #TheSylviaCenter #KidsInTheKitchen #FoodEducation #HandsOnLearning #CooksForHealth #YouthDevelopment #chopped

Spring is the season to eat fresh and green 🌱 In New York, May brings asparagus, radishes, and sweet peas—at their most vibrant, flavorful, and affordable. Cooking with the seasons isn’t just delicious—it’s a way to build cooking confidence, connect to where our food comes from, and make the most of what’s growing right now. 🥗 What’s your favorite spring ingredient to cook with? #TheSylviaCenter #EatSeasonally #FoodEducation #CookingConfidence #FarmToTable #HealthyEating #SpringFlavors #NYFresh #FoodLiteracy

What looks like “magic” in the garden is actually months of planning. At our Learning Garden at @katchkiefarm , every herb, vegetable, and ingredient our students touch has been thoughtfully grown with their learning experience in mind. From greenhouse trays in winter to harvest in the spring, it’s all part of a carefully designed process that connects students to the food they eat. Because when students grow, cook, and taste their food, they build a lasting connection to it. Read more about how we plan—and plot—our garden from Learning Garden Manager, Julie Cerny at the link in bio (or paste this into your browser: /a-garden-by-design/) #TheSylviaCenter #LearningGarden #GrowYourOwn #SpringPlanting #GardenEducation #UpstateNY #HudsonValleyNY #GardenCommunity #FoodEducation