Liberty’s Kitchen Expands Footprint and Impact with New Poydras Location

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New Orleans, La. (June 8, 2017) – Liberty’s Kitchen is pleased to announce the opening of its second café, Liberty’s Kitchen Poydras, located on the third floor of the Freeport-McMoRan Building in the Central Business District. The Grand Opening celebration took place on Thursday, June 1, with Chefs Alon Shaya and Susan Spicer working alongside Liberty’s Kitchen students to create one-of-a-kind delicacies for the enjoyment of the many alumni and supporters in attendance.

The Poydras location represents a milestone for Liberty’s Kitchen, expanding both the organization’s footprint and the opportunities it can offer its students. In addition to the training offered at the Liberty’s Kitchen Broad Street location, the Poydras facility will provide advanced training for graduates of the Youth Development Program who wish to further develop their leadership skills and pursue career-track positions in their chosen fields.

“At Liberty’s Kitchen, our goal is ensure that our young people have the opportunity to share in, and contribute to, the prosperity and vitality of our city,” said David Emond, executive director of Liberty’s Kitchen. “We are committed to our students’ long-term success, and with the new Poydras location, we’ll be able to offer continued support and training as they advance in their careers.”

Several alumni also spoke at Thursday’s Grand Opening Celebration, including Tevin Clark, an alumnus of the Youth Development Program and a member of Liberty’s Kitchen Youth Leadership Council. Clark, who is currently working towards a degree in graphic design, credited Liberty’s Kitchen with giving him the skills and confidence to pursue his dream. “Liberty’s Kitchen taught me the importance of hard work and dedication,” Clark said. “My instructors saw leadership potential in me, and they challenged me to see it in myself.”

Liberty’s Kitchen Poydras is located on the third floor of the Freeport-McMoRan Building, 1615 Poydras St., in the Central Business District. It is open for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chef Adam Martinez has created a menu that is both delicious and costconscious, with healthy daily specials offered in partnership with Eat Fit NOLA. For more information about Liberty’s Kitchen and its many programs to help New Orleans’ young people live healthy, happy lives, visit: www.libertyskitchen.org. Professional photographs of the Grand Opening Celebration are available at Dropbox, or by request at nlaher@libertyskitchen.org.

Liberty’s Kitchen creates pathways for New Orleans youth to create and achieve their vision of success through workforce training, leadership development, and support of healthy lifestyles. Since our founding in 2009, we have trained over 600 disconnected youth in life skills and foodservice-based workforce development. In 2010, we launched our School Nutrition Program, which to date has provided over two million freshly prepared, healthy meals to local charter schools and day cares, serving as an innovative supply chain intervention that improves the health of New Orleans school children through nutritious food that also tastes great. In 2014, we expanded to our current location: a 10,000 sq. ft. facility located in the ReFresh Project, a collaborative community health hub. In 2016, we launched our Youth Leadership Program, extending youth services to a full year and providing access to leadership development opportunities for Liberty’s Kitchen graduates.