Blog

As part of Common Threads’ ongoing diversity, equity & inclusion programming, the organization held a Know & Grow workshop in December focused on how to best engage with people with developmental disabilities. The session was led by Natalia Wong, executive director of the WOW Center in Miami, a nonprofit that serves over 200 adults with developmental disabilities, offering programs such as music therapy, art, and educational studies.

We all love a good home cooked meal and the rich savory flavors from Southern cuisine. In celebration of Black History Month, we are exploring the history of some of the South’s most popular foods. Join us as we give them a healthy twist while honoring their origin and tradition.

To help address unprecedented hunger and food insecurity that families continue to face as a result of COVID-19, Common Threads teamed up with its partners in Austin and Pittsburgh to provide food distribution just in time for the holidays.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits have had to shift their fundraising strategies, knowing they don’t have as many tools in their arsenal as they did about a year ago.

Holidays are a time to come together at the table and celebrate traditions with family and food. While the holiday celebrations may be different this year, food is still the common thread that brings us all to the table, whether it’s in-person or virtually.

Common Threads is a national nonprofit that is providing virtual cooking and nutrition education programming during COVID-19 to help families in under-resourced communities make healthy and affordable food decisions in the grocery store, kitchen, and dinner table.

Thanksgiving in 2020 was a paradox in many ways, but a Common Threads dream team came together to prove that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Common Threads partner The Advisory Committee of Liberty City Youth (TACOLCY) teamed up with Miami-based Holmes Elementary School and Common Threads supporter, Wild Fork Foods, to host a Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway benefiting Liberty City families and community.

Explore our fall menu of recipes, featuring our favorite seasonal fruits and vegetables and incorporating budget friendly pantry staples. These are great options for your Thanksgiving meal or any day and your comfort cravings will be satisfied!

COVID-19 has transformed education, challenging educators to think differently about how to reach students. Throughout the pandemic, teachers have reported varying levels of success with the move to virtual learning.

It’s soup season! Indulge in our favorite fall comfort food with healthy soups, chilis, and stews. Our favorite recipes are “souper” easy to make and with a few tricks and treats can be a “souptacular” dish for a chilly fall day. Follow our easy ABC tips for cooking up a healthy bowl of soup.

Halloween may be different this year, but we can still keep the sweet, healthy, and fun! There’s tons of different ways to celebrate this Halloween is a safe and socially distanced way. Try our easy, kid-friendly, and festive recipes and bring the fun of Halloween to your own kitchen.

By Common Threads | Oct 16, 2020 Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 is the 75th celebration of World Food Day, a global day organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This year, Common Threads is helping families in need by highlighting resources and...

By Common Threads | Oct 14, 2020 Food community lends its voice to promote wellness on Friday, Oct. 16 AUSTIN (Oct. 13, 2020) - COVID-19 has had a profound impact on communities across the country, with one in five American families facing food insecurity, according...

By Common Threads | Oct 8, 2020 By Shana Alford A day in the life of Stella Yi Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, ranges from engaging New York City community residents in research...

By Common Threads | Sept 28, 2020 More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic as families have coped with health issues, job losses, virtual education and food insecurity, institutions such as government agencies, school districts and nonprofit organizations have...

By Common Threads | Sept 30, 2020 Common Threads interviewed a few parents and educators about their experiences with virtual learning, food acquisition and meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In this interview, Diana Morales from Houston shares her perspective on...

By Common Threads | Sept 16, 2020 By: Lucette Talamas Lucette Talamas, MS, LDN, registered dietitian with Baptist Health South Florida and a Common Threads Miami board member, shares her recipe for healthy homemade flour tortillas. Stuff these delicious South American...

By Common Threads | Sept 16, 2020 September is National Family Meals Month™, an initiative launched by FMI Foundation in 2015 to raise awareness of the lifelong benefits gained when families share meals together. What started as a grassroots initiative five years ago...

By Common Threads | Sept 8, 2020 Beyond providing space for everything ranging from blue sky thinking to brass tacks planning, staff retreats (often referred to as “all hands” meetings) can serve as an opportunity for culture building by bringing the entire team...

By Common Threads | Sept 4, 2020 Partnerships include food distribution initiatives in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh. AUSTIN | April 13, 2020 (Updated Sept. 3, 2020) – To address food insecurity communities are facing in the...

By Common Threads | Aug 28, 2020Earlier this month, Common Threads’ Chicago board and long time Common Threads supporting partner, The Chopping Block, co-hosted a live stream, interactive cooking class in support of Common Threads’ Back to School Campaign. Common...

By Common Threads | Aug 26, 2020 Elizabeth Halle, a member of Common Threads' Miami board loves one of Spain's classic dishes, the Tortilla Española. In this special blog, she shares her experiences of enjoying Tortilla Española during her travels, and now at home...

By Common Threads | Aug 18, 2020 An interview and discussion with Yvonne Wang-Silonga of New York By Letty Salas & Julia ChantAug. 18, 2020 Common Threads recently had the opportunity to sit down with parent Yvonne Wang-Silonga for an interview regarding how her...

By Common Threads | Aug 14, 2020 An interview and discussion with Antoniette DiGregorio, P.S. 88 The Seneca School By Shana AlfordAug. 14, 2020 As schools reopen this fall – often with a continuation of virtual education – Common Threads will be featuring educators...

By Common Threads | Aug 11, 2020 Four Black physicians and public health experts share their perspectives on how communities can achieve health equity, particularly as communities grapple with COVID-19 pandemic To help communities better understand the health...

By Common Threads | Aug 11, 2020 The Common Threads team is made up of dedicated staff who are aligning their personal passions with their professional careers. In this interview, we’re showcasing Vice President of Programs Stephanie Folkens’ journey from volunteer to...

By Common Threads | Aug 12, 2020 By Mimi Chacin Aug. 6, 2020 - The Coronavirus pandemic has affected virtually every aspect of life and society. At a time when nonprofits are among the most needed, they too are among the most impacted. However, the innate steadfast...

By Common Threads | Aug 4, 2020 The Common Threads team is made up of dedicated staff who are aligning their personal passions with their professional careers. In this interview, we’re showcasing Associate Director of Programs James Bell’s journey from volunteer to...

By Common Threads | Jul 24, 2020 Miami Herald opinion article from Co-Founder & CEO Linda Novick O'KeefeThe recent surge of COVID-19 cases, coupled with the looming expiration of federal benefits programs, mean many families are worried about the future.Common Threads...

By Common Threads | Jul 16, 2020 Common Threads has invited individuals from its network to share their perspectives on recent events. In this blog, Chef Bill Kim (chef/owner of urbanbelly and executive chef of Crate and Barrel’s Table at Crate) documents his thoughts...

By Common Threads | Jul 15, 2020 Camp to feature cooking lessons from celebrity chefs plus sessions for physical activity, mindfulness and more To help students and families mitigate the “summer slide,” Common Threads is offering a free, two-week virtual summer camp...

By Common Threads | Jul 7, 2020 Common Threads has invited individuals from its network to share their perspectives on recent events. In this blog, Chef Anita Lo from New York documents her thoughts on COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how the restaurant...

By Common Threads | Jul 6, 2020 Cooking & nutrition education nonprofit will use two-year grant to begin sourcing food from urban farms for Chicago programs Chicago | July 6, 2020 – Common Threads, a nonprofit organization that provides hands-on, cooking and...

By Common Threads | Jul 1, 2020 Like families and organizations across the country, Common Threads is rapidly adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic — and we need your help.Many of the communities in which we work will be especially vulnerable to the repercussions of the...

By Common Threads | Jul 16, 2020 Article by: Linda Novick O’Keefe, Co-Founder & CEO, Common Threads With school being out and most of our summer plans on hold because of the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents don’t know what to do to keep their...

By Common Threads | Jul 16, 2020 The following activities can help keep learning activities during the summer. Learn more by reading our blog from CEO & Co-Founder Linda Novick O’Keefe on the "summer slide.” TRIPS Many families are taking socially-distanced...

By Common Threads | Jul 9, 2020 Common Threads supports our students, parents, educators and partners in support of the Black Lives Matter movement Article by: Linda Novick O’Keefe, Co-Founder & CEOJune 9, 2020 “Our world is a large quilt and its people are the...

By Common Threads | May 28, 2020 I’ve reached the part of my quarantine cooking where I’m digging into my childhood for recipes that feel comfortable and familiar, things I don’t let my adult self indulge in with any frequency. I could eat macaroni and cheese, like my...

By Common Threads | May 15, 2020 Common Threads explored the topics of culinary medicine, the Chicago-based Cooking Up Health program, and COVID-19 with expert Melinda Ring MD, FACP, ABOIM. Dr. Ring is the Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine,...

By Common Threads | May 1, 2020 May 1, 2020 - Common Threads is a national nonprofit that provides nutrition education programming in 12 markets. With offices in only five of these markets, many of our 36 administrative staff and all of our chef instructors and...

By Common Threads | Apr 21, 2020 AUSTIN | April 20, 2020 – Common Threads, a national nonprofit organization that provides cooking and nutrition education to children in under-resourced communities, today announced the appointment of two notable members to its...

By Common Threads | Apr 17, 2020 This blog is part of an upcoming series. Please stay tuned and look in your inboxes and on social media for more content. CHICAGO | April 14, 2020 – COVID-19 is now a historic pandemic. Thousands of new cases a day, record unemployment...

By Common Threads | Apr 8, 2020 Article by: Linda Novick O’Keefe, Co-founder & CEO April 7, 2020 - Passover was always my favorite holiday. When I was little, it was because I loved matzah and maror and horseradish, which I ate raw. More than anything, I loved...

By Common Threads | March 3, 2020 CHICAGO | March 2, 2020 – Recently, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois paid a visit to longstanding Common Threads partner, Jungman STEM Magnet Elementary School in Chicago. He spoke to students and faculty about his responsibilities as...

By Common Threads | Jan 30, 2020 MIAMI | January 30, 2020 – In advance of Miami Super Bowl LIV, Common Threads teamed up with Miami Dolphins of the National Football League for a Wellness Extravaganza at one of its flagship schools in Miami, Carrie P. Meek/Westview...

By Common Threads | Jan 22, 2020 The non-profit continues to celebrate its 15-year anniversary with its favorite notable Washington D.C chefs as part of their Chef Takeover series WASHINGTON D.C. | January 21, 2020 – Common Threads, a non-profit organization dedicated...

By Common Threads | Oct 16, 2019New York | October 25, 2019 – Common Threads, a nonprofit organization that provides hands-on cooking and nutrition education to children, parents, and teachers in under-resourced communities, announces a five-year expansion within...

By Common Threads | Oct 8, 2019CHICAGO (Oct. 7, 2019) – The Peninsula Chicago is pleased to announce the launch of Chef Dinner Series, a guest chef series that will take place at its restaurant, The Lobby, celebrating Chicago’s rising talent, including The Lobby's new...

By Common Threads | Sept 24, 2019This article was also featured on the platforms below:FIU Stemple College of Public Health South Florida Hospital News

By Common Threads |Sept 20, 2019September 20, 2019 – Patrick Kenny is much like any other five-year-old boy. He loves being outside, dreams of being an engineer when he grows up, and loves all things LEGO. But what sets Patrick apart from his peers is his profound...

Bad Credit Feature: Common Threads Delivers Healthy Food Education on a Budget….

AUSTIN (July 24, 2019) – Common Threads, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness to children, families and communities through cooking….

After nearly 10 years of partnering with Common Threads, Principal Debra Dubin will be retiring from North Miami Elementary. Mrs. Dubin was the principal when North Miami Elementary first signed on to participate in Common Threads….

Common Threads hosted a philanthropic evening of sushi making in partnership with Miami law firm Bilzin Sumberg….

Ricky Dixon is a 15-year-old freshman at Miami Central Senior High School, who shares a unique passion….

We’ve just met, and the tall, elegantly dressed man has already distracted me with thoughts of a savory meal….

Dewdney Liburd, a recent participant in one of Common Threads’ Family Cooking Classes in New York…