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Earth Day Celebration: Easy Everyday Changes and Sustainable Practices for you to Adopt to Make a Difference
This month we celebrate Earth Day, an annual, worldwide campaign to raise awareness for pressing environmental issues like climate change, recycling, deforestation, pollution and more. While technically only one day a year, Earth Day highlights topics that should be kept top of mind while we go on about our everyday lives. In this blog post, we’re challenging you (and ourselves!) to try implementing the following practices, and let us know what they do for your daily routine
Feast Your Eyes on Common Threads Hottest Partnership: A Blog Celebration!
In late 2020, one particular partnership started heating up, opening a spicy new world for Common Threads. The First We Feast team approached Common Threads via email in fall 2020, indicating that the organization was very aligned with First We Feast’s goals for cause marketing. The resulting conversations showed that First We Feast is just as passionate and delighted about food and nutrition as Common Threads is.
3 Renowned Black Chefs You Should Know About this Black History Month
Happy Black History Month! Historically recognized in February, this month celebrates Black history and heritage of both the past and the present, including educating people on the often forgotten, veiled experiences and figures who shaped various industries. At Common Threads, we recognize and value the cultural roots in which much of our food is rooted in, with many of our recipes stemming from Caribbean, African and Southern cuisines.
FoodPrints shares tips for exploring food through five senses, family traditions
One of Common Threads’ program partners, FRESHFARM FoodPrints, offers programming that creates opportunities for students to learn about different food traditions through their five senses and by building connections with their own cultures and history. In this guest blog, the FoodPrints team shares its approach to educating communities about food (something aligned with Common Threads’ mission) and provides some tips for how families can engage children in positive discussions about food.
Be Mindful About Food Safety While Cooking
Although the food supply in the United States is one of the safest, bacteria or pathogens may still contaminate some foods we eat, making us ill with foodborne disease, also known as “food poisoning”. Currently, there are around 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year – the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans, making it essential to be mindful about food safety while cooking.
How to understand the % Daily Value on the Nutrition Labels
The Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods and drinks has been updated to make it easier for you to make informed choices. The Daily Values for many nutrients have been updated based on new nutrition research. So, the % Daily Value, or %DV, may be different on some of your favorite foods and beverages.
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In the News
Common Threads: The Power of Using Food for Change and Education
(KitchenChat, 7/29/19)
Café La Trova Team Feeds Families During Pandemic
(Miami New Times, 4/6/20)
Run through the Fire
– an interview with CEO Linda Novick O’Keefe (BizCastHQ, 6/7/17)
Healthy Thanksgiving recipes with Tamron Hall
(Tamron Hall, 11/27/20)
Common Threads, Top Box, & Mariano's Partner for COVID-19 Relief
Chicago Food Magazine, 4/13/20
Cooking For Life
film from TakeCare, 2019
Common Threads Pittsburgh provides meal kits for the holidays
(WPXL NEWS, 12/20/20)
U.S. senators should stop playing politics with America’s hungry children
(The Miami Herald, 7/23/20)
VIDEO Gallery
Yum Academy Recipe – Veggie & Fruit Two Ways
Fried Rice Recipe
Yum Academy Recipe – Strawberry Lemonade
SNAP-Ed NYC Chef
Testimonials

Firstly, I would like to thank you all for providing a virtual Summer Cooking Camp. It was not just a cooking experience, Eliza learned yoga, all about what is a fruit and what is a vegetable. They also read, had drawing lessons, and learned about healthy eating. Eilza was able to follow the lessons without falling behind. As per Eliza, her experience was fun and exciting. She really enjoyed it. Eating healthy is a practice we implement at home. But she learned new things like mixing fruits and meat together. And everything was delicious. Eliza’s favorite part of the cooking lessons is creating new foods and learning how her plate should look- rainbow plate. Excellent! Eliza enjoyed using all the supplies that were sent for her to use. Overally as a parent I give your program a 10 out of 10. It was very informative and full of new experiences for my daughter. Thank you for this opportunity.
Mercedez Torres

This program is a phenomenal way for students to enjoy cooking and culture, while learning about making healthy lifestyle choices. At Colfax, we savor Common Threads as an integral after-school program for our students.
Casey Weiss

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami is thankful to have such a strong community partner in Common Threads. During the COVID-19 crisis, our Littles and their families did not have enough food to eat. Thanks to Common Threads, hot food to cover four days was secured from Cafe La Trova. In times of crisis, humanity and partnership always win!
Gale Nelson

Please know that the Carrie P. Meek family is truly grateful for the support that the Common Threads program is providing to our families. Without the Common Threads program, we would not be able to do this good deed! In addition, we thank all involved in making provisions to our families in the form of gift cards to support them during this unprecedented time. I am personally thankful and appreciative for your-in kind gift to our families in need.
Marchel Woods

My training as a chef gives me the platform to help others, which is why I work with Common Threads and other community organizations. “I knew I could not be on the sidelines wishing someone would help, and I am grateful to be part of the solution.
Bill Kim
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National Fact Sheet

Sponsor Benefits Doc

Communications Toolkit
Contact information for
Communications team
LaTrice Stirrup,
Marketing & Events Manager
lstirrup@commonthreads.org
Empowering Our Community
Many of the communities in which we work will be especially vulnerable to the repercussions of the pandemic.