Ida B. Wells 2016 (photo courtesy of Lemanski and Rockwell Architects)

While we wait for some final construction details to be completed, these two articles came out about us and our school:

Paste Magazine Article by Annelies Zjiderveld:

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/06/alice-cravens-thriving-in-the-heat-of-the-kitchen.html

This is a great article if you are interested in learning more about the focus of our class – thank you always Annelies!

Hoodline article about Ida B. Wells reopening:

http://hoodline.com/2016/07/renovation-complete-at-ida-b-wells-high-students-to-return-this-fall?utm_source=individual-stories&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=stories

A good one if you are curious about the renovations and the feel of our new school.  We will be back inside as early as next week, preparing for our students’ returns August 15th.

We are so excited to get started again!

Wow. The end of May blew my mind.  We knew we were moving. All of a sudden here we are, unpacking. In our newly tiled kitchen.  With windows. Real working windows!

You know what? I cried a little.

Continuing around the room, there is one feature we are particularly proud of, something very important. Perhaps only some chefs drool at the idea of a new hood. It is that shiny silver thing on the ceiling, center back. This allows you to bring in the fire power of professional cooking. For us that happens to be a 6 burner gas range. (We like to keep things small yet powerful.) And where exactly is that firepower?  It is waiting patiently outside the room while contractors figure out the easiest way to squeeze it in.  We know it will happen.

So enough basking in this for a bit.  What helped us get through this past year and a half while our culinary classroom was being created?  Our students and their resilience first and foremost, and their willingness to try a hybrid version of our class, definitely.  And there are many more people who helped keep us reaching week after week:

• Dan Scherotter, he allowed us to use the OC Culinary space part time, which allowed us to actively work with our students again- so important!
• BiRite Markets, what great staff!  In their busy business, they seamlessly found ways to bring in a few of our students as produce interns at their Divisadero Street store. They are a stellar example of great teamwork in action.
• NOPA Restaurant, so generous and gracious with our intern there!  True support and best training ground for hospitality and life.
• De Young Museum Cafe, Jason finding a way to give our students a chance.  Thank you for creating another great workplace and for your involvement!
• AOHTFS & CTE – Oh acronyms.  These are our academy board and district department. School districts have to be steeped in accountability, but it is artful how in working with these two groups, we can feel that their supporting us in our work is their priority.
• And most of all, the people I get to work with at Ida B. Wells, in particular: Debbie Guardado and Michael Martinez. One can’t keep doing the same thing over and over (isn’t that the definition of insanity?).  Having a team who understands the heart behind the heat keeps that most important spark going.

Have a great summer everyone!