Walking into a brand new restaurant always fills us with a sense of excitement and curiosity. I hope the food is good. I wonder if we’ll get a good waiter. I hope the check isn’t too steep at the end of the night.Thoughts start to flood your brain as your stomach growls and you make your way to the table.
My husband and I find our seats at a communal table with a group of strangers and are greeted by the smiling face of 18-year-old Cee-Cee. “Welcome to The Bowl,” she says, holding a mini-clipboard dressed in a Washington Redskins jersey. We quickly learn that this is a Super Bowl-themed restaurant and all the wait staff, considerably younger than your average restaurant workers, are dressed in jerseys and referee-style shirts.
The one-room dining hall is packed and it’s not just because of the great food. This restaurant is a hot spot in the Carrollton neighborhood of Baltimore because of its unique format. Only open on the last Sunday of the month, the menus and themes are always rotating—and it’s totally free. Not to mention, the menu items—like buffalo cauliflower bites, potato skins, mac n’cheese, and fried chicken—are all created and prepared by the children bustling around at the restaurant.
In the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, where communities grapple with the stark realities of high crime rates, food insecurity, and limited access to education and employment, one organization is making a significant difference. The Food Project, nestled within the vibrant streets of Baltimore, offers not just meals, but a pathway out of poverty for at-risk youth and their families.
Seedy Nutty isn’t just a good snack. It’s changing lives in Southwest Baltimore. We are proud to partner with CareFirst to support The Food Project Baltimore. Check out the Seedy Nutty stand the next time you are at The Yard!
https://youtu.be/pItDtAIwzPc?si=8Z7BLhAWjaqubiWe
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https://youtu.be/gVvMD9pZbXs?si=nQvvaRQylPV51Zt-
The Food Project’s Michelle Suazo (Executive Director) and Ashley Dingle (Operations Manager) discuss the importance of community-based education, providing jobs for youth in need, and tapping into kids’ passions to be sure they love what they do. On July 25, 2022, the Orioles announced a three-year initiative with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in support of The Food Project, a Baltimore organization that brings cooking, farming, restaurant skills, job opportunities, sustainable food sources, mentorship, and hope to the youth of Southwest Baltimore. The Orioles and CareFirst have pledged funds over the next three years to provide jobs within The Food Project. The positions that will be funded include an operations manager, kitchen manager, meal deliverer, and Seedy Nutty Granola production manager.
Subscribe to the Baltimore Orioles YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2SYEQEV #BaltimoreOrioles #CareFirst #TheFoodProject #Birdland #MLB #Orioles For more O’s action: https://www.orioles.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Orioles/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orioles/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Orioles
The Orioles deepened their involvement in the Baltimore community earlier this year when they announced their partnership with CareFirst Blue Cross BlueShield. As part of the partnership, the organizations will focus on supporting The Food Project, a local Baltimore non-profit, for the next three years.
Located just two miles from Oriole Park, The Food Project brings cooking, farming, restaurant skills, job opportunities, sustainable food sources, mentorship, and hope to the youth in Southwest Baltimore.
“We are thrilled to join forces with CareFirst to support a wonderful local organization in The Food Project,” said Jennifer Grondahl, Orioles Senior Vice President, Community Development & Communications. “We were first introduced to The Food Project in 2019 and have been working with them ever since. Their Seedy Nutty Granola is a popular food item purchased in our ballpark, and we were fortunate to employ at-risk youth from their program in our ballpark during the 2022 season. This new initiative is just an extension of what has already been a years-long positive relationship, and we are looking forward to getting more people involved to continue to give back to our Baltimore community.”
As part of their partnership, the Orioles and CareFirst have pledged funds to provide jobs within The Food Project. The jobs include an operations manager, kitchen manager, meal deliverer, and a Seedy Nutty Granola production manager, and will directly impact those living in Southwest Baltimore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wenJgHPzcJ4
Hear from CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield CMO Mack McGee and Director of Community Health & Social Impact Hosanna Asfaw-Means on the importance of fighting food insecurity and strengthening workforce development in our communities as Orange & Black Gives Back and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield volunteers lend a collective hand on-site at The Food Project.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfEAiROVyH0
Michelle Suazo, Executive Director of The Food Project, discusses the importance of the organization’s role in the community. On July 25, the Orioles announced a three-year initiative with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in support of The Food Project, a Baltimore organization that brings cooking, farming, restaurant skills, job opportunities, sustainable food sources, mentorship, and hope to the youth of Southwest Baltimore. The Orioles and CareFirst have pledged funds over the next three years to provide jobs within The Food Project. The positions that will be funded include an operations manager, kitchen manager, meal deliverer, and Seedy Nutty Granola production manager.
Subscribe to the Baltimore Orioles YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2SYEQEV #BaltimoreOrioles #Birdland #MLB #Orioles For more O’s action: https://www.orioles.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Orioles/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orioles/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Orioles
Sep 2022
https://youtu.be/QJpzAzDArz8?si=-P6wUWOj4OyVmcLU
Taking a look into The Grind Popup Restaurant & Shop giving youth entrepreneurs of The Food Project in SW Baltimore an opportunity to grow their ideas. A Community Based Educational program growing Community Based Enterprises in SW Baltimore.
WMAR CH2 Baltimore
Excerpt from Transcripts
Northern Division Criminal Case No. Glr-19-0400
BEFORE: THE HONORABLE GEORGE LEVI RUSSELL, III, Judge
“In this court room we often discuss solutions on how we stop this (the cycle of crime and violence). And here it is you (The Food Project) are doing just that. You are on the front lines of this.” "You are already making a difference because you made a difference in his life. And you are making a difference out there. So I implore you, don't stop. You are an unsung hero in Baltimore and I appreciate that." "I admire you very much, Ms. Suazo, and I will remember you." -Honorable George Levi Russell III
A letter from Senator Antonio Hayes:
Dear Friends,
Below you will find a few important COVID-19 updates and resources. Please share with your networks and be sure to follow me on social media at @antoniohayes40 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more information and resources, please visit my website at www.antoniohayes.com/covid19.
As always, my office is here to help in any way we can, please do not hesitate to reach out. To contact me, please email antonio.hayes@senate.state.md.us or leave a voicemail at 410- 841-3656 and someone will return your call as soon as possible.
Regards,
Senator Antonio Hayes
40th District- Baltimore City
Community Shout Out: Thank you Food Project!
Fred Rogers from PBS show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, once said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers.’ You will always find people who are helping.” And in times like these, we certainly see a great amount of helpers, like The Food Project of Baltimore, providing us with hope and faith while fighting the good fight within the front lines.
The Food Project is an organization serving as a social enterprise that provides job opportunities to young people within the community. Its mission and core value is to build on serving the young people within the community, and in turn, the young people serve the community. These young people within The Food Project are mentored and immersed within the topics such as cooking and nutrition, restaurant development, urban farming, and food production.
In their efforts to help the community during this COVID-19 pandemic, every week they prepare fresh packed meals from about 18,000 lbs of food, varying from fruits, vegetables, proteins, drinks etc. and then sort and deliver to vulnerable individuals and families throughout the community. They are also incorporating a newsletter that will include recipes, online classes, at-home activities, and mental health tips to connect and virtually provide help within the community.
With such tremendous efforts in serving our community, we are certainly grateful for all they have done and are currently doing. And as such, we should strive to emulate such virtues to honor their efforts in fighting the good fight in these challenging times.
