Common Threads

During these nutrition education curriculum sequences (eight 60-minute lessons per session), trained teachers or youth workers at partner schools and organizations engage students in connecting math, language arts, and science concepts to hands-on nutrition lessons – each of which includes preparing a healthy snack. Small Bites is Common Core-aligned by grade level (K-8) and reinforces STEM concepts.

: These two-hour classes – offered as a series of three two-class sequences – bring students and parents together through cooking. Partners are able to choose from the following focus areas: 1) Breakfast: Getting a Healthy Start; 2) Family Meals Made Easy; and 3) Restaurant Meals You Can Make at Home. Each lesson focuses on family participation, healthy ingredient substitutions, and convenient, SNAP-aligned recipes.

These 30- to 60-minute sessions engage parents and encourage healthy eating habits at home and in the community at large. Topics include: basic nutrition, grocery shopping, and cooking with kids. The workshops have flexible formatting that allows them to be incorporated in other parent related programs, such as parent meetings and school health fairs.

These two-hour trainings prepare educators, youth development staff, or student/family support workers to implement Small Bites and equip them to be healthy role models for students. Trainings include information on nutrition, healthy cooking demonstrations, and guidelines for how to integrate nutrition education into core content.

This one-time, hands-on cooking class for teachers gives them the opportunity to learn the importance of incorporating nutrition lessons into their curriculum.

During this historic COVID-19 pandemic, Common Threads knows that the health, economic, and social burdens will be especially heavy for people in the communities we serve. Our immediate focus is on supporting the children and families who are most severely impacted by the loss of resources, and the teachers who are dedicated to meeting their educational needs. We are also using this time to strengthen relationships with old and new partners, including the chefs and restaurant workers who are facing significant challenges to their livelihoods.

Special initiatives we are undertaking include digital learning resources and virtual classes for educators, students, and parents; meal and food distribution that supports families and restaurants; and online wellness programs to promote the physical and mental health of staff, partners, and friends of the organization. Below are details on these initiatives.

Expanding and Sharing our Digital Resources for Educators, Students, and Parents

Virtual Classes
Common Threads has worked rapidly to adapt in-person programming to virtual platforms, with access and program integrity as primary goals. In May, we launched live online Small Bites nutrition education classes in NYC and in our Texas cities. These classes are available to all students and their families in these markets, with an emphasis on our SNAP-Ed school partners. Currently, 32 classes are being held on a weekly basis. Currently, 32 classes are being held on a weekly basis. Recorded versions of the classes are also available for students, families, and educators in any of our markets.

A new partnership with After-School All-Stars (ASAS) has Common Threads coordinating nutrition education and food distribution to high-need families. After-School All-Stars is a nationally-recognized after-school program for children nationwide. Common Threads is offering online Small Bites nutrition education classes and “Ask a Chef” sessions for families. Families will receive grocery vouchers, funded by ASAS, with Common Threads recommended ingredients and shopping lists should they wish to participate in the cooking demos.

During May and June, chef instructors and program staff are being trained on virtual implementation of Common Threads’ more cooking-intensive classes — including Parent Workshops, Family Cooking Class, and Cooking Skills and World Cuisine — with plans to begin making all four available in late June.

Summer Camp
Continuing to capitalize on the flexibility and reach of virtual classes, Common Threads will be offering a free Summer Camp this year for rising 3rd – 5th graders from across the country. The camp will focus on building healthy habits through healthy cooking classes, physical activity classes while combating summer slide with the inclusion of science, math, English language arts, and art classes. The camp will meet Monday-Friday for 3.25 hours per day for two weeks. Working in small groups (12 students) students will learn how to cook cuisines from all around the world, how to make healthy choices in and out of the kitchen, and conduct science experiments using basic kitchen items. The inaugural year will center on an Olympic theme, where campers can earn medals and awards during cooking competitions, trivia games, and breaking personal records in exercise challenges. Five sessions are planned, reaching up to 180 youth.

Common Bytes
For our children, families, and educators who are transitioning to online and remote instruction, we are offering free resources through our Common Bytes digital nutrition education platform. These resources are available nationwide, including cities where we do not lead in-person programming. Teachers using the site can create digital classrooms and see student activity by class. Meanwhile, students can complete lessons online and play games, explore recipes, watch videos, and read articles. New content is regularly being added so teachers, students, and families can browse and learn about nutritious, affordable cooking during the pandemic. In order to reach community members who may benefit most from digital resources, we are promoting the resources with a pop-up message on our main website, in emails and newsletters, and on all social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

"Small Bites is an easy to use resource that helps open up the nutritional unit into any physical education or health curriculum. During COVID-19, Common Threads’ virtual curriculum has been helpful because it has been so easy to integrate, and the lessons are simple and interesting.” – Mr. Lonny Nava, Physical Education Teacher, El Paso, TX

“Transitioning to virtual school poses its own set of challenges for a Montessori teacher. A significant part of our curriculum is geared toward enhancing practical life skills. Learning about nutrition is an invaluable life skill, and through Common Threads videos I was able to instill the importance of a well-balanced diet to my students, and introduce ways they can make more thoughtful daily food choices.” – Ms. Christy Sickle, Pre-K & Kindergarten Teacher, Miami Beach, FL

Results include:
• By sharing these resources with partners (including school districts, corporations, and other non-profits) who then pass word to their constituents via email or resource sites, our web referrals have increased by 7,345%, driving more visitors to our website.
• We have increased frequency of communication with educators — our key partners — by shifting our Common Bytes and Bits newsletter from a monthly to a weekly email, which has led to a referral increase of 1,943%.
• We are engaging with users from high need states such as Washington, where digital user sessions have increased 148%, and in New York State, where sessions are up 180%.

Wellness Webinars
To conteract the negative health impacts from stress and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic Common Threads launched a series of live wellness webinars for staff, partners, and the public. Topics have included demonstrations of healthy family meals, at-home ergonomics, stress management, yoga, meditation, and physical fitness. Videos are archived YouTube channel for future “on-demand” viewing.


Networking
As Common Threads’ expertise in adapting to the digital environment grows, we are sharing our experience with peers across the country. In May, Common Threads was invited to join virtual meetings led by Chicago Public Schools and the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education and Policy at Columbia University.

Preparing Emergency Meals for Students and Families

Recognizing that we could leverage our partnerships and collaborative strengths to get meals to families in need, Common Threads developed the Family Meals Initiative. We communicated and coordinated with school districts, chefs, and grocery partners — all of whom are integral to the success of our programs — to launch this initiative. Fundraising and partnership building are ongoing as we seek to replicate efforts in as many markets as possible.

Partnerships include:
• Miami: At the end of March, Common Threads worked with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to implement its Spring Break Initiative, providing breakfast, lunch, and a snack to 80 children of Miami's healthcare workers. Additionally, we collaborated with long-time ally Michelle Bernstein’s Café La Trova and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami to distribute family meals to 100 area people. Café La Trova will continue to provide meals to Miami families in need, with in-kind donations of food from Sysco. This work was featured in the Miami New Times.

“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami is thankful to have such a strong community partner in Common Threads. During the COVID-19 crisis, our Littles and their families did not have enough food to eat. Thanks to Common Threads, hot food to cover four days was secured from Cafe La Trova. In times of crisis, humanity and partnership always win!” – Gale S. Nelson, M. S., President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami

• Miami: From May 14th – June 11th, Common Threads offered a meal distribution program for 160 families connected to four Miami-Dade County public schools each week. Families received grocery boxes containing 15-20 pound of fresh produce from Urban Food Oasis, chef-prepared meals from the restaurants Yardbird or All Day Miami, and nutrition education materials and recipes from Common Threads. This initiative was made possible through grants from The Batchelor Foundation and Florida Blue Foundation, and gift card donations from Publix. During the five-week program, 480 family meals and over 9,600 pounds of produce have been distributed.

“Please know that the Carrie P. Meek family is truly grateful for the support that the Common Threads program is providing to our families. Without the Common Threads program, we would not be able to do this good deed! In addition, we thank all involved in making provisions to our families in the form of gift cards to support them during this unprecedented time. I am personally thankful and appreciative for your in-kind gift to our families in need.” – Marchel D. Woods, Principal, Carrie P. Meek/Westview K-8 Center

• Chicago: Common Threads is collaborating with Sysco, Allen Brothers, local restaurants and distributor Top Box Foods to deliver free, healthy dinner meals to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. The chef-prepared meals will accompany Top Box’s grocery box, which includes produce and proteins selected by families and healthy recipes, a meal plan, and shopping lists crafted by Common Threads. Additionally, meals are also being distributed to various healthcare partners including: Rush Hospital, Illinois Masonic, and St. Bernard’s Hospital. Over the course of 10 weeks, Common Threads partnered with different restaurants and caterers to distribut 3,520 meals. Beginning in July, the Chicago meal distribution will shift to support our Summer Camp (see above).

“Sheltering in place can amplify isolation and contribute to the challenge of access. Common Threads has used its vast networks to serve those who are most vulnerable. This virus does not discriminate, but how society cares for itself does, and Common Threads weaves us all together so we can help each other.” – Chris Kennedy, Co-Founder, Top Box Foods

• New York City: Common Threads is working with assembly member Nolan in Queens to get fresh produce to families from the PS 111 community. As in other programs, families will receive a box of fresh produce and chef-prepared meals from chef JJ Johnson. Distribution of boxes for 150 families will take place twice in June at a nearby community center (not at the school itself).
• New York City: Common Threads, supported by the Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation, is collaborating with Sysco and NYU Langone to provide pantry boxes for outpatients from NYU Langone-Brooklyn and for families visiting the food pantry at the NYU Langone Sunset Park Family health Center. The boxes will include healthy recipes, a meal plan, and shopping lists crafted by Common Threads.
• Pittsburgh: In April, Common Threads teamed up with Giant Eagle and UPMC Children’s Hospital to provide a week’s worth of groceries for 600 families in partnership with all six of Allegheny County’s Family Support Centers. The grocery boxes included ingredients and recipes based on a Common Threads’ one-week Meal Plan and the boxes were delivered on families’ porches by support center staff.
• Los Angeles: Several efforts are in development to provide food access to families within Los Angeles this summer, including:
o Offering chef-prepared meals for approximately 300 families, at Para los Niños, a longtime LA school partner.
o Distributing “meal kit” grocery boxes for the 60 families at LINC Housing.
o Providing supplemental shelf-stable proteins for approximately 125 families receiving grocery deliveries at the YMCA.

Supporting our Chefs and Restaurant Partners

Whether leading programs, supporting our fundraisers, or being advocates for healthy food in their communities, our chefs and restaurant partners have been integral to Common Threads’ success across our markets. We are actively working to support them and engage them in our response efforts during this time.



Current efforts:
• Chicago: We have introduced local chefs to food vendors (e.g. Top Box). In some cases, these connections have led to temporary/short-term employment for chefs to use their skillsets and in-kind product — provided by Common Threads through Sysco — to cook meals for families (see above) and other relief efforts, such as the Restaurant Workers Relief Program through the Lee Initiative and food insecure patients discharged from Rush Hospital. Chefs and restaurants involved include: Bill Kim (Urban Belly), Paul Hitalenko (Huegah), Josh Katt (KitchFix), Terry and Dirk Fucik (Dirk’s Fish), Kevin Hickey (Duck Inn), Tiffany Williams (Exquisite Catering), Zach Greatting (Brix Catering and Events), Pioneer Tavern Group Shelly Young (The Chopping Block), and Sandra Holl (Floriole).
“My training as a chef gives me the platform to help others, which is why I work with Common Threads and other community organizations. I knew I could not be on the sidelines wishing someone would help, and I am grateful to be part of the solution.” – Chef Bill Kim, Owner, Urbanbelly

• Miami: We raised funds to sustain employment for local chefs who prepared meals for children of healthcare workers during spring break (see above). Restaurants and catering companies delivered prepared breakfast, lunch, and a snack to children at three sites — in north, central, and south Miami-Dade County. To assist restaurant partners as they experience financial challenges due to COVID-19, Common Threads paid for the costs associated with the food.
• Nationally: We have hired Chef Instructors to lead virtual classes, which extends employment for them during a difficult employment market.
Looking Forward

• Programming post COVID-19: Our staff are keeping open lines of communication with the school districts and community organizations we serve, not only to share COVID-19 resources and virtual program activities, but also to ensure we are prepared to resume school and community-based programs as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Supporting SNAP Eligible Families: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides families with increased access to SNAP benefits, and we anticipate, even when COVID-19 subsides, more families will continue to receive those benefits. Common Threads will work to ensure SNAP eligible families in our markets also have access to compelling, useful information about healthful, nutritious cooking.
• Continued investment in Digital Resources: The lessons we are learning while reaching people online promise to influence program delivery for the near, and maybe far, future. This evolution will necessarily require investment in the increased costs for digital resources, which include: more server space; increased customer support for new users; improved backend functions to accommodate a wider variety of users; the education team’s time to create and curate more resources; and offsetting the cost of releasing free materials to new audiences.