Detroit Food Academy

Hands-on cooking classes, leadership programs, and food-system education are offered to middle and high school students in Detroit. The afterschool program runs during the school year at partner schools, community sites, and virtually, with cooking lessons, food-system exploration, and ingredient kits for home learning. Summer brings a paid six-week program with cooking, field trips to food businesses, and guest chefs. Advanced students can develop food-based business projects, learn culinary techniques and workplace skills, and receive mentorship from chefs and small business owners; participants earn stipends. Programs also include social-emotional learning, group discussions, and lessons on food access, wellness, and sustainability. Detroit Food Academy also operates Small Batch, a social enterprise. Its programs focus on youth leadership and food education in Detroit.