By: Katie Kaiser
Campus Kids had a special visitor last week- Washington state’s 2011 chef of the year Elijah Dalager. He came to share his story and a healthy meal with the youth of the program. Campus Kids invited Dalager to the program as a part of the new Dare to Dream initiative. Dare to Dream challenges program staff to build a culture of creativity and motivation by utilizing resources from the University and Spokane community so that the kids can begin to imagine a bright future for themselves.
Like many students, Dalager struggled in the traditional school subjects. “I didn’t like to read,” he confessed “and I was terrible at math.” His passion for cooking was ignited during his time as a student at the Skill Center, an alternative Spokane public high school. “Now I love to read my cookbooks, and I use math every day at work.” He encouraged the kids to stick with school and seek out their own passions offering himself as an example of a success story.
Dalager had the Campus Kids’ undivided attention as he instructed them how to make orange infused popcorn and turkey pinwheel wraps. The kids enthusiastically ate their creations at the end. The food was provided with funding from the Florence Wasmer Fund for Children and Families. For the second year in a row, the Mentoring Programs received a grant from the Wasmer Fund to provide healthy meals for program participants as well as nutritional education.
Dalager’s time with the Campus Kids not only filled their bellies with wholesome, healthy food, but also gave them another potential path as they continue to think about their futures.
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