We are Common Threads. We teach low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals because we believe that through our hands-on cooking classes we can help prevent childhood obesity and reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers, while celebrating our cultural differences and the things people all over the world have in common.

Our mission is to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through cooking. We help bridge cultural boundaries and strengthen our global family by teaching children about their similarities and differences in the warm comfort of the kitchen: Through the simple process of preparing and sharing a nutritious meal, children who participate in our programs learn to connect with their bodies, their neighbors, and their world in bite-sized lessons.

Common Threads began out of our love of family and good food, two basic ingredients that link all people of this world together. Family nurtures us, protects us and connects us to a larger community. Food nourishes us, excites us and teaches us about the world around us. 

Children who participate in our programming come to our kitchens and embark on a world adventure as they prepare nutritious meals rooted in diverse cultural heritages. By using the power of food to show how much we have in common with our neighbors, we teach children that we are more similar than different. We can bridge cultural boundaries and strengthen our bond as a global family through the simple process of preparing and sharing a meal with others.