LIBERTY’S KITCHEN BEGAN
AROUND A KITCHEN TABLE IN 2008.
Founder Janet Gorence Davas
Janet Gorence Davas opened our first location across the street from a New Orleans courthouse as a counterpoint to incarceration. Her vision was to create a place where young adults who had been neglected or criminalized could come for a hot meal, a job opportunity, and a support system.
Our Mission
Liberty’s Kitchen provides pathways for New Orleans young people to create and achieve their vision of success. Food–at the heart of our city’s economy, culture, and future–is our chosen vehicle for change.
Our Vision
A community where all young people can succeed.
The conditions that have deprived so many youth of the opportunity to reach their full potential are not new–they have existed for hundreds of years. We know we will not change these conditions overnight. However, we envision that our work today will enable the life of the children and grandchildren of our graduates to be easier than theirs have been.
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Our Values
Youth Centered
We exist to be a platform for youth to create and achieve their vision of success. Therefore we must hear, respect, and amplify their voices.
Grounded in Racial Equity
Adverse conditions disproportionately facing youth of color are a legacy of structural inequality. We simultaneously support the individual while working to address patterns of inequity.
Committed to Excellence
Overcoming entrenched social challenges requires vision, creativity, and effort equal to the scope of the problem. We strive to do our best work on a daily basis.
Interdependent
“We are because you are.” Our work in the kitchen, in the program, and in the community is highly collaborative. We use partnerships and relationships to create the change we envision.
Our Work
Timeline
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Liberty’s Kitchen, Inc. Founded
Liberty’s Kitchen is founded in December 15, 2008 by Janet Davas at Tulane and Broad, across from Orleans Parish Prison and the Criminal Courthouse. Our first students start in 2009.
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Liberty’s Kitchen serves its first school meal
Liberty’s Kitchen partners with New Orleans College Prep to begin serving school meals at Crocker Elementary. In the coming eight years, we will serve over 2 million meals, joining a national movement to improve child nutrition.
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Liberty’s Kitchen moves to 300 N. Broad St.
Liberty’s Kitchen moves down the street from its original location into the ReFresh Project, a health equity collaborative based at 300 N. Broad Street. This move enables us to collaborate more effectively with entities such as the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, Boys Town, and SproutNOLA working to reduce health disparities along the Broad Street corridor.
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Liberty’s Kitchen Poydras opens for business
Liberty’s Kitchen begins operation of the cafeteria on the Third Floor of 1615 Poydras. The new location is a new training facility for young people and serves up great food at affordable prices. It features rotating daily specials and deli, classics, grill, and salad bar stations.
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The Healthy Corner Store Collaborative makes its first delivery
In partnership with the City of New Orleans, Propeller, and Top Box Foods, Liberty’s Kitchen begins operating the Healthy Corner Stores Collaborative, bringing affordable produce to food deserts and “food swamps” in each city district. This partnership will help set the course for a new chapter in our food access work.
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Liberty’s Kitchen opens its Taylor Center for Young Leadership
Liberty’s Kitchen completes construction on a 3,000 square foot expansion, adding a learning and technology lab, community room, and more space for administration. The upgraded space hosts trainee graduations, community gatherings, and alumni support services.
