Philadelphia • Active
We help young people build the skills, relationships, and confidence they need to navigate stress, strengthen their mental health, and thrive.
Our relationship-based approach combines evidence-based mental health practices with the wisdom of lived experience. Through cooking, shared meals, and community, we create safe and welcoming spaces where young people can learn, practice healthy responses to stress, and build meaningful connections with peers and trusted adults.
We meet young people where they are, learn from them, and support them in becoming confident, resilient, and connected. We envision a Kensington where every young person has the tools, relationships, and supportive community they need to pursue their ambitions—and where the next generation has the opportunity to thrive beyond the opioid crisis.
Philly Bridge & Jawn was funded to provide weekly paid cooking programs for Kensington youth, combining food preparation, communal meals, social-emotional learning, financial literacy, nutrition, mental health strategies, teamwork, and job readiness.
PB&J was funded to provide a paid after-school cooking program for Kensington youth ages 12–19, offering a safe space to build relationships while learning food preparation, nutrition, self-care, emotional regulation, healthy responses to stress, and other practical skills.
PB&J is an after-school cooking program that connects youth to caring adults, local opportunities, and essential resources while teaching life skills around food preparation, nutrition, self-care, and safety. Our innovative Cook, Eat, Connect, and Get Paid model combines contemporary, evidence-based educational and psychological techniques with the timeless wisdom about the peacemaking power of food. Through consistent engagement and a relationship-first approach, we ensure that no young person falls through the cracks of our system.
Philly Bridge & Jawn was funded to pilot two programs for up to 20 Kensington teens, building social connection and linking participants to youth-serving organizations through collaborative cooking, nutrition education, healthy meal preparation, and communal meals.
