About Us
Our Mission
Liberty's Kitchen is a social enterprise dedicated to transforming the lives of New Orleans' youth by providing a path to self-sufficiency through food service-based training, leadership and employment programs.
The Liberty’s Kitchen Youth Development Program provides at-risk youth, ages 16-20, with the opportunity to build a better future by increasing their ability to change their situation and engage in a supportive community where they learn life, social and employability skills in a culinary setting. The intensive training program combines hands-on food-service training with classroom instruction, individual case management, education programs and job placement services and/or a return to an educational setting.
Click here to Download the Liberty's Kitchen Brochure
Our Vision
The vision of Liberty’s Kitchen is to give disadvantaged youth ages 16 – 20:
- The chance for an independent, inspired and productive life.
- A sense of purpose and confidence and the skills, tools and opportunities to thrive in gainful employment.
- Access to the resources to deal with those issues which have held them back – poverty, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, arrested educational achievement and/or participation in the justice system.
Our Board Members
- Dr. Alan Burshell, Chair, Ochsner Health Center
- Dr. Mary Bartholomew, Secretary, Delgado Community College
- Ms. Shawne B. Favre, Treasurer, Significant Solutions, Inc.
- Mr. Thomas Beron, Attorney at Law, Liskow & Lewis
- Mr. Steve Gleason, Shaw Environmental, New Orleans Saints (Ret.)
- Mr. Jeffrey P. Good, McGlinchey Stafford
- Ms. Wendy Good, Community Activist
- The Honorable Calvin Johnson, Municipal Human Services District
- Ms. Hope Meyer, Community Activist
- Mr. Matthew G. Schwartz, Domain Companies
- Ms. Cathy Vaughn, Educator (Ret.)
- Mr. Bertrand A. Wilson, Barriere Construction Company
Our Advisory Board
- Mr. David Davas, McMoRan Oil & Gas, LLC
- Ms. Loyce Pierce Wright, Louisiana Commission on Human Rights
Our Staff
- Janet Davas, Executive Director - Ms. Davas brings almost thirty years experience in the energy sector where she gained exceptional organizational and communication skills and business acumen. After returning to New Orleans post Katrina with her husband David and daughter Elizabeth, she served as Director of Development and was then named Interim Chief Executive Officer of Café Reconcile, a food service based mission located in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans.
- Brack May, Executive Chef/ Food & Beverage Operations Manager - With over 20 years of restaurant experience, Chef Brack May has worked in all facets of the restaurant industry in venues ranging from San Francisco to New Orleans, and all across the country. His experience and training give him a distinguished level of expertise in food preparation styles that include European, Far Eastern, Southwestern/Mexican, and of course, Cajun and Creole. His positive attitude, marketing savvy, and penchant for problem solving make him a true leader in the mission of Liberty's Kitchen.
- Omar Buckner, Program Manager - Mr. Buckner is a graduate of Xavier University where he received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award. His career in community organizing and program development and his affiliation with Dooky Chase's Restaurant brings yet another level of expertise to our organization and our students.
- David Harris, Chef Trainer/KitchenManager - Chef David is a native New Orleanian with over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry. In that time, he has taken his culinary skills around the world, from Grand Cayman B.W.I. to the far reaches of northern Canada. His passion for teaching and desire to share his wealth of knowledge have taken him out of fine dining and into the mission of Liberty’s Kitchen.
- Hardie McDonald, Chef Trainer/ Assistant Kitchen Manager - Chef Hardie has many years’ experience working as a culinary professional. Hardie has worked with youth in a number of environments in the past and brings a fresh perspective to the project.
- Chris Brooks, Executive Assistant - Originally from Charlottesville, VA, Chris moved to New Orleans the summer after Hurricane Katrina. He spent a year on staff with the Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership, before managing operations at a local non-profit primary school. Christopher also brings with him years of high-volume industrial kitchen experience, which rounds him out as a great addition to our team!
- Dee Schauer, Program Support Coordinator - Ms. Schauer has a passion for helping youth se and exceed their life goals. Her experience and expertise in the recruiting and customer service industries allow her to teach students transferable job skills that will give them an edge in their careers. Most recently, she worked with students in RSD high schools as the Program Manager for science programs. Her bubbly personality and professionalism make her an asset to the team!
- Oneikia Moore, Catering/FOH Manager - Nikki comes to us with a wealth of experience in hotel F&B operations and customer service. She is very passionate and dedicated to seeing our students succeed, and making sure they have the life skills necessary for success in the job market. Her warm and fuzzy personality makes her a great addition to Team Liberty!
Kitchens With Mission
Critical to its organizational plan, Liberty’s Kitchen is an affiliate of Kitchens With Mission, a Seattle-based non-profit working to build and sustain communities rooted in social enterprise and food service-based training. Liberty’s Kitchen remains an independent agency implementing our own innovative programs but benefits from Kitchens With Mission’s ongoing oversight and accreditation, shared resources and benefits including sponsorships (such as Starbucks), services, equipment and products.