Making a Difference
In so many ways, both large and small, Purple Asparagus is
making a difference for our kids, here at home and across
the nation.
In 2010, Head Spear Melissa Graham joined chefs and kids'
advocates from across the nation at the White House for
the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move
campaign. After the meeting, Purple Asparagus brought the
message home, co-hosting a "debriefing" for participating
chefs with Share Our Strength and the Healthy Schools
Campaign. As an extension of the program, Purple
Asparagus wrote the curriculum for the Chefs in the
Classroom Day and helped train the volunteer chefs
supporting the program.
We co-organized "Chefs in the Classroom" with Healthy
Schools Campaign, a city-wide project through which
celebrated chefs teach children about healthful eating.
Purple Asparagus spearheaded Growing Healthy Kids, a
coalition of organizations working to provide resources and
references for sustainability education in the Illinois Public
Schools.
Purple Asparagus is featured on Rachael Ray's Yum-O!
Foundation's How Cool is That? With a focus on families and
food, Yum-O! empowers kids and their families to develop
healthy relationships with food and cooking. Yum-O!
celebrates non-profits who share their values and work
hard to do the same. Read more!
Purple Asparagus Programs
In the 2009-10 school year, Purple Asparagus provided over
125 hours of grant-supported education programming to
more than 5000 kids and parents.
During the 2010-11 school year, Purple Asparagus expanded
services to provide regular programming to at least fifteen
Chicago Public Schools, all of which are in under-served
communities.
In the classroom ....
The backbone of Purple Asparagus' mission and
programming is school outreach. Purple Asparagus provides
monthly Delicious Nutritious AdventuresTM and other
educational programs at McAuliffe School (2005-11),
Academy of Global Citizenship (2010-11), King Elementary
(2010-2011), Al Raby high School (2011), Basil Charter School
(2011), Budlong Elementary (2011), Clinton Elementary
(2011), Curie Metro (2011), Decatur (2011), Hinton
Elementary (2011), Learn Charter (2011), Lincoln
Elementary, Evanston (2011), McNair Charter (2011), Polaris
Charter School (2011), Pritzker School (2011), Reed
Elementary (2011), Volta Elementary (2011, Washington Park
Consortium (2011), Rogers School (2009), Senn High School
(in partnership with WE Farm America) (2009), Namaste
School (2009), McCormick School (in partnership with Seven
Generations Ahead)(2009), Ogden School (2008), Ames
Middle School (2008), McCormick School (2008) and St. Ann's
(in partnership with Seven Generations Ahead) (2008).
Every week, the list of programs and outreach activities
grows.
Throughout the year, we present informal classes and
demonstrations on how to prepare and enjoy food that's
good for the body and the planet. Purple Asparagus
believes that food should be fun, and so we work to make
fun a priority at every community event.
Our programs have included "Solving the Puzzle of the Picky
Eater" for Northside Parents Network Parent University,
and healthy lunch demonstrations at the Millennium Park
Family Fun Tent during Taste of Chicago and the City of
Chicago Back to School Fair for teachers. We've co-
organized Garbage to Garden classes with Urban Worm Girl,
participated in Lincoln Square's Kids in the Square event,
and taught "Sustaining Family Traditions" at Green Family
Holiday Fair. The list goes on and on!
We invite kids to step up and play (while learning informally
about cooking, nutrition and sustainability) at events like
the Family Farmed Expo’s Organic Kids Activity Corner and
"What's on Your Plate?" (a craft project encouraging
healthful eating) in Millennium Park's Family Fun Festival.
We've demonstrated family friendly recipes at the City of
Chicago's Department of Family Support and Services
monthly Mobile Health Fairs.
During the summer, when most of our schools are closed,
Purple Asparagus takes the show on the road to farmers
markets throughout Chicagoland including the Green City
Market, Southport Farmers' Market, 61st Street Farmers'
Market, Glenwood Farmers' Market, Evanston Farmers'
Market, Geneva Green Market, West Humboldt Park
Farmers' Market, Morton Grove Farmers' Market, Forest Park
Farmers' Market, Libertyville Farmers' Market, Uncommon
Ground's Farmer Fridays.
Besides presenting interactive programming, we're
advocates for healthful, sustainable eating. We organize
community events to support the bigger picture such a
screenings of documentary What's On Your Plate at schools,
museums, farms, and community centers. We partnered
with Northwestern University's Master of Science in
Leadership and Organizational Change on a local food
procurement study for schools.
In so many ways, both large and small, Purple Asparagus is
making a difference for our kids, here at home and across
the nation.
In 2010, Head Spear Melissa Graham joined chefs and kids'
advocates from across the nation at the White House for
the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move
campaign. After the meeting, Purple Asparagus brought the
message home, co-hosting a "debriefing" for participating
chefs with Share Our Strength and the Healthy Schools
Campaign. As an extension of the program, Purple
Asparagus wrote the curriculum for the Chefs in the
Classroom Day and helped train the volunteer chefs
supporting the program.
We co-organized "Chefs in the Classroom" with Healthy
Schools Campaign, a city-wide project through which
celebrated chefs teach children about healthful eating.
Purple Asparagus spearheaded Growing Healthy Kids, a
coalition of organizations working to provide resources and
references for sustainability education in the Illinois Public
Schools.
Purple Asparagus is featured on Rachael Ray's Yum-O!
Foundation's How Cool is That? With a focus on families and
food, Yum-O! empowers kids and their families to develop
healthy relationships with food and cooking. Yum-O!
celebrates non-profits who share their values and work
hard to do the same. Read more!
Purple Asparagus Programs
In the 2009-10 school year, Purple Asparagus provided over
125 hours of grant-supported education programming to
more than 5000 kids and parents.
During the 2010-11 school year, Purple Asparagus expanded
services to provide regular programming to at least fifteen
Chicago Public Schools, all of which are in under-served
communities.
In the classroom ....
The backbone of Purple Asparagus' mission and
programming is school outreach. Purple Asparagus provides
monthly Delicious Nutritious AdventuresTM and other
educational programs at McAuliffe School (2005-11),
Academy of Global Citizenship (2010-11), King Elementary
(2010-2011), Al Raby high School (2011), Basil Charter School
(2011), Budlong Elementary (2011), Clinton Elementary
(2011), Curie Metro (2011), Decatur (2011), Hinton
Elementary (2011), Learn Charter (2011), Lincoln
Elementary, Evanston (2011), McNair Charter (2011), Polaris
Charter School (2011), Pritzker School (2011), Reed
Elementary (2011), Volta Elementary (2011, Washington Park
Consortium (2011), Rogers School (2009), Senn High School
(in partnership with WE Farm America) (2009), Namaste
School (2009), McCormick School (in partnership with Seven
Generations Ahead)(2009), Ogden School (2008), Ames
Middle School (2008), McCormick School (2008) and St. Ann's
(in partnership with Seven Generations Ahead) (2008).
Every week, the list of programs and outreach activities
grows.
- Dear Melissa,
Thank you very much for your valued
partnership with Clinton School. As I reflect
on the past year of programming, I am
delighted to have Purple Asparagus as a part
of our community school initiative. The
Healthy Snack Workshops are a fun and
meaningful addition to our Health & Wellness
Initiative. Thank you for all your time and
efforts. We love the workshops! I am thankful
to continue working together in the New Year!
Sincere thanks, Megan Marker
Throughout the year, we present informal classes and
demonstrations on how to prepare and enjoy food that's
good for the body and the planet. Purple Asparagus
believes that food should be fun, and so we work to make
fun a priority at every community event.
Our programs have included "Solving the Puzzle of the Picky
Eater" for Northside Parents Network Parent University,
and healthy lunch demonstrations at the Millennium Park
Family Fun Tent during Taste of Chicago and the City of
Chicago Back to School Fair for teachers. We've co-
organized Garbage to Garden classes with Urban Worm Girl,
participated in Lincoln Square's Kids in the Square event,
and taught "Sustaining Family Traditions" at Green Family
Holiday Fair. The list goes on and on!
We invite kids to step up and play (while learning informally
about cooking, nutrition and sustainability) at events like
the Family Farmed Expo’s Organic Kids Activity Corner and
"What's on Your Plate?" (a craft project encouraging
healthful eating) in Millennium Park's Family Fun Festival.
We've demonstrated family friendly recipes at the City of
Chicago's Department of Family Support and Services
monthly Mobile Health Fairs.
- Dear Ms Graham,
On behalf of Mayor Richard M Daley and the
residents of the City of Chicago, I extend our
deepest appreciation to The Kids' Table and
Purple Asparagus for your contributions to the
Chicago Department of Family and Support
Services Mobile Community Service Centers.
The mobile community service centers served
over 1,600 residents with much needed
services. Your cooking demonstrations and
recipe cards were instrumental in achieving
our goal of promoting healthy eating habits.
Thank you again and I look forward to
continuing our shared goal of bringing healthy
eating practices to all Chicago residents.
Mary Ellen Caron, PhD
Commissioner, Chicago Department of Family
and Support Services
During the summer, when most of our schools are closed,
Purple Asparagus takes the show on the road to farmers
markets throughout Chicagoland including the Green City
Market, Southport Farmers' Market, 61st Street Farmers'
Market, Glenwood Farmers' Market, Evanston Farmers'
Market, Geneva Green Market, West Humboldt Park
Farmers' Market, Morton Grove Farmers' Market, Forest Park
Farmers' Market, Libertyville Farmers' Market, Uncommon
Ground's Farmer Fridays.
Besides presenting interactive programming, we're
advocates for healthful, sustainable eating. We organize
community events to support the bigger picture such a
screenings of documentary What's On Your Plate at schools,
museums, farms, and community centers. We partnered
with Northwestern University's Master of Science in
Leadership and Organizational Change on a local food
procurement study for schools.
How Cool is That?
Purple Asparagus was
recognized by Rachael Ray's
non-profit Yum-O! Cook.
Feed. Fund.
How Cool is That is
dedicated to people and
organizations who are
making an effort to improve
the way we eat. We're
pleased to be in such good
company!
Purple Asparagus was
recognized by Rachael Ray's
non-profit Yum-O! Cook.
Feed. Fund.
How Cool is That is
dedicated to people and
organizations who are
making an effort to improve
the way we eat. We're
pleased to be in such good
company!
| Bringing Delicious Nutritious AdventuresTM to you! |
| Purple Asparagus is a non-profit that educates children, families, and the community about eating that's good for the body and the planet. |
2011 Chicago Tribune Good Eating Award Winner
(C) 2011 Purple Asparagus
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