CREATING FOOD SYSTEMS CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITIES CHEFS CALL HOME

Chef Michel Nischan is co-founder and co-curator of the James Beard Foundation's Chef Bootcamps for Policy and Change, and former board member of the now-dormant Chefs Collaborative. These organizations have stoked a movement of dedicated chefs eager to drive food systems change, validating their ability to make impactful differences in their communities.

Building on this momentum, OneKitchen offers a trusted space for chefs to further their journey by providing ongoing support, mentorship, and a safe and tested platform to develop actionable recipes for meaningful change in their communities.

CHEFS CHANGING THE WORLD THROUGH FOOD

OneKitchen is a Wholesome Wave education and mentorship program focused on getting chefs out of the kitchen and into advocacy by training them how to address the most important food systems-related issues in their communities. From social to environmental impact areas, we facilitate national food systems change by activating in various locations across the country at the local and regional level.

Our mission is to organize, educate, and mobilize chefs as effective changemakers in the communities they call home. OneKitchen achieves this by providing chef members with various learning materials, case studies, connections, and mentorship opportunities to enhance their skills through our national OneKitchen network. Chefs are then activated in gathering partner organizations and stakeholders around one table with one vision: to create a better world through food.

Whether leading a restaurant, corporate cafe, food truck, or college dining hall, at OneKitchen, all chefs are champions of building a healthier, more vibrant, and more equitable food system.

The OneKitchen national network consists of a strategic alliance between Wholesome Wave leadership, Action Partners, and Kitchen Collaboratives. The OneKitchen Program Director & Manager oversees all program processes, resources, and relationships related to the KCs and Wholesome Wave, with Chef Michel Nischan overseeing the Advisory Council. The Action Partner remains in close contact with the Program Director to activate Chef Members and track progress.

National Network Stakeholders

ONEKITCHEN PROGRAM DIRECTOR
ONEKITCHEN PROGRAM MANAGER
ADVISORY COUNCIL
ACTION PARTNER
- One organization per KC location
Kitchen Collaboratives
- Chef Members, including:
  - Head Chefs
  - One Kitchen Coordinator
- One Steering Committee per KC
  - At least three stakeholders from outside the food industry

The purpose of starting with pilot locations is to further define and refine roles and program processes in preparation for the national launch. Therefore, all criteria are subject to change.

OUR PILOT COALITIONS

CALIFORNIA

Action Partner: Sacramento City Unified School District

In California, we’re working with the Sacramento Unified School District to secure permanent Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT) funding at the state level. By expanding this initiative, we can transform school food through improved dining experiences, engaging chefs in menu development, catalyzing increased school lunch participation and local sourcing while creating jobs, and generating vital revenue for schools.

COLORADO

Action Partner: Nourish Colorado

In Colorado, we are working with Nourish Colorado on supporting the Yes on LL & MM campaign to ensure that Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) is protected in Colorado. OneKitchen hopes to ensure that every child in Colorado can continue to get a healthy meal at school and that Colorado Agricultural commerce can continue to be supported and uplifted.

GEORGIA

Action Partner: Pending Update

The Georgia Coalition is currently undergoing a transition with a new Action Partner. We are so grateful to Wholesome Wave Georgia for helping to launch our coalition and look forward to future opportunities we have to work with them. We will continue focusing our coalition’s energy on Food is Medicine in Georgia and look forward to the work we will be able to accomplish with out new Action Partner. Stay tuned for more information about OneKitchen Georgia!

TEXAS

Action Partner: Sustainable Food Center

In Texas, we are partnering with the Sustainable Food Center to work on securing more funding in the Texas State legislature to increase the number of grocery stores and farmers’ markets participating in Double Up Food Bucks Texas (Double Up Texas). Securing more funding will significantly expand access to fresh, nutritious food for families in rural and urban communities across all 11 regions of Texas.