Today, Phoenix City Councilman Jim Waring was finally able to see what goes into making his favorite pizza in the city. Soon, many of Phoenix’s City Councilmembers will be able to see how their favorite restaurants prepare their dishes.
That is because of Roosevelt School District’s ‘Summer School Enrichment Program’. From June 5th-June 22nd, kids from Roosevelt School District grades 5th-8th will learn nutrition, kitchen skills, and food preparation training as part of a comprehensive culinary program. The program is being sponsored by the Arizona Restaurant Association’s local coalition of restaurants named “Kitchen Cabinet Phoenix”, along with Sky Harbor Airport food concessionaire SSP America.
“This is a tremendous example of the private sector stepping up and helping generate interest in one of the many careers that will be available to these kids,” said Lawrence Robinson, a Roosevelt School District Board Member. “I’m thrilled to have these companies’ sponsorship, as well as having our Phoenix City Councilmembers contributing to the program’s success.”
Several Phoenix City Councilmembers will be visiting the program throughout its three-week run. These Phoenix City Councilmembers was asked to provide their favorite restaurant in their district, and those restaurants are participating in a cooking demonstration for the students throughout the program. Wednesday saw Phoenix City Councilman Waring attending while Mike Campbell, a chef from his favorite restaurant Humble Pie Pizza, gave a cooking demonstration.
“This is a great program for the City of Phoenix, and one that teaches these students valuable and much-needed culinary skills,” said Waring, who hopes to see the program expand to other school districts across the city. “Seeing local chefs create these dishes we all love will be a great experience for these kids.”
According to the National Restaurant Association, one in three Americans get their first job in a restaurant, and half of all American adults have worked in one at some point during their lives.
