Bella Cuisine's innovative 'Cooking with Cops' program wins 'Peace Grant'

Organization founded by Steve Jobs' widow Laurene awards $25K to program that builds bridges between young people and Chicago police

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The Bella Cuisine Kids Cooking Club

Jul 26, 2016, 03:42 ET

CHICAGO, July 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bella Cuisine Kids Cooking Club (BCKCC), a CPS after school program for students 8 – 15 focused on the benefits of healthy eating snagged a $25,000 'Peace Grant' award from the Emerson Collective, a philanthropic organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Their "youth advisory council" awarded BCKCC the grant so they can continue their innovative partnership with Chicago Police that pairs officers with the students on different turf – the kitchen.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel enjoys lunch prepared by the kids of Bella Cuisine Kid's Cooking Club, and their police officer partners last Wednesday at City Hall. Latrice McArthur, founder of Bella Cuisine is pictured at right in black. The program is the winner of a Peace Grant from the Emerson Collective

Just over a year ago, Bella Cuisine began Cooking with Cops, an innovative program that pairs Chicago police officers with at-risk youth in an effort to foster positive interactions among young people and police. BCKCC believes this coming together in a safe, relaxed, fun environment is the first step in changing negative perceptions of the police.

Last Wednesday, the BCKCC students and their CPD partners from the Area North CART Team and the 7^th District Englewood CAPS, came together to prepare a special luncheon for Mayor Rahm Emanuel and members of the City Council. It was there that the Mayor entered a resolution of support for the organization, and made the announcement about the Emerson Collective Grant. Earlier that morning Alderman Derrick Curtis, an early supporter of Bella Cuisine, held a press conference about the grant alongside founder Latrice McArthur.

"The Bella Cuisine Kids Cooking Club prides itself on promoting healthy eating in underserved areas of Chicago, while teaching kids about nutrition and health, skills that will last them a lifetime," says McArthur. "Receiving the Peace Grant will allow us to involve more youth in our popular 'Cooking with Cops' program that not only teaches youth culinary skills, but also fosters positive interactions with our police officers."

Superintendent Eddie Johnson became a fan of the program after visiting a class at Moos Elementary School earlier this year. "There was a special kind of teamwork going on as the officers and the students whipped up their recipes," said Johnson, "cooking has a way of bringing people together ... especially when it's time to enjoy the results!"

The "Peace Grant" program received nearly 300 grant requests. Winners were selected based on ingenuity and a demonstrated plan to provide youth a role in making their communities safer and more peaceful. All grants awarded will run through the end of the year.

To learn more or to support Bella Cuisine Kids Cooking Club visit www.bella-cuisine.com.

Follow the conversation using #bellacuisine, #cookingwithcops, #peacegrants, #emersoncollective

ABOUT BCKCC

BCKCC was founded seven years ago to demonstrate to youth the benefits of healthy eating. Today BCKCC engages nearly 500 students, ages 8 - 15 in schools on Chicago's South and West sides and the program has been recognized as part of Chicago City Clerk Susana A. Mendoza's "Culinary Kids Initiative". The BCKCC message is simple, make healthy eating a part of your daily life and encourage families to cook together and cook from scratch.

About the Chicago Police Department

The Chicago Police Department, as part of, and empowered by, the community, is committed to protect the lives, property, and rights of all people, to maintain order, and to enforce the law impartially. We will provide quality police service in partnership with other members of the community. To fulfill our mission, we will strive to attain the highest degree of ethical behavior and professional conduct at all times.

About the Emerson Collective

We are an organization dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity so people can live to their full potential. Established by Laurene Powell Jobs, we center our work on education, immigration reform, the environment and other social justice initiatives. We use a wide range of tools and strategies—partnering with entrepreneurs and experts, parents and policymakers, advocates and administrators—to spur change and promote equality.