Program Structure Brainfood students spend their first year with us participating in Brainfood After School, gaining exposure to new ideas, skills and opportunities through fun group activities. After School meets two afternoons a week for exciting and educational food-focused activities. The program structure involves interactive classroom activity, hands-on cooking instruction, field trips, guest speakers, student presentations, and a graduation event designed and executed by students. Students participate in weekly workshops to improve job searching and professional etiquette. The Brainfood Mentoring Program matches teens with food industry professionals who act as advisors, teachers, community service partners, and friends.
Mentors guide teens toward bright futures by sharing life experiences.
The program provides students with opportunities to learn about careers, discuss the future, go on outings, and review schoolwork. Mentors talk to students about their dreams and challenges, encouraging them to set goals and helping to reach them. Finally, students participate in FoodVenture, the youth entrepreneurship component of the Brainfood program. Student teams conceive of food-related businesses, create business plans with the assistance of FoodVenture instructors and local entrepreneurs, and launch legitimate business ventures. Throughout the program, instructors expose students to different models of business operation, emphasizing socially-responsible case studies.