By Angeles Cuevas The Howler
When Yolanda Scarborough was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, she didn’t know if she was going to be able to go back to work full time. That’s when she started teaching high school students how to cook.
She is the administrator for Detroit Food Academy (DFA), an after-school program for Detroit Cristo Rey and other high schools that shows students how to make all kinds of dishes, from banana nut bread to sushi to salmon. Now, Scarborough’s family is involved. Three of the Scarborough children, one Cristo Rey alumna, one current student, and one future student work or volunteer at DFA.
I like “preparing a meal, knowing it doesn’t need to be perfect,” Scarborough said. “A family isn’t perfect. It just has to have family members who love each other enough to make it work. I feel so blessed to be working with awesome youth that I know will be able to change the world.”
The idea of family extends to students through DFA. It has allowed the freshmen to feel accepted in their new high school environment, said Nehe-miah Scarborough, a Cristo Rey student and Yolanda Scarborough’s daughter.
“I remember the freshmen stood and talked to us about how they felt welcomed, equal, and appreciated at DFA,” Nehe-miah said. “They no longer felt like outcasts but part of a family.”
Not only does DFA bring students together, but it also brings the outer community together. Mealshare is an event that happens once a year and allows one school to prepare a meal for many people. This year the students are preparing meals with an Asian Fusion theme, and last year they made pizzas.
“My dad was there, and he used to work at a pizzeria so he showed us how to do it,” said Sarah Scarborough, a Cristo Rey alumna. That was one of the times when all the family got to be there together and help with Mealshare.”
Detroit Food Academy has not only offered students the tools they need to learn how to cook, but has provided them the opportunity to be a part of another family, students said.
“DFA has outsourced my family. Now my family consists of everyone in DFA and everyone who was in it last year, even if they didn’t come back,” said Nehe-miah Scarborough. “It’s like my family has grown.”
