Master Cooks Corps (2)

Spruill is a Master Cooks Corps success story. She
Serena
to the program as one of those community unsung
came
who had participated in some of the cities
heroes
food justice firsts. She was part of the inaugural
Maverick
of citizens to start the first farmers market in New
group
over 20 years ago. She also was part of the
Haven,
around the first community garden. In 1980 she
organizing
a vegetarian and then vegan after stumbling on
became
vegetarian co-op and thinking it would be good for
the
health. A mother of 5 and a former wife, Serena has
her
an active citizen most of her life. She has not been
been
difficulties, dealing with depression and
without
after her divorce. She has been a client of
schizophrenia
Mental Health and has used food as a tool
Connecticut
help in her healing process. She is now a Peer Support
to
and helps to cook nutritious food for clients in
Specialist
cafeteria to help rid their diet of processed food and
the
meals that are healthy and local. She leads groups
cook
workshop around recipes where clients get a bag of
and
ingredients of what they have cooked in class.
the
came to Master Cooks Corps very unassuming
She
somewhat shy. Her confidence has been
and
as she has gone from assisting classes
transformative
leading them. She just graduated from The Natural
to
Institute studying raw, vegan, and plant-
Gourmet
food preparation. She is a regular on local
based
sharing her passion for food and teaching
television
her vibrant smile. She is ready to take on the
with
world as the leader she has always been. Her
food
is infectious as she spreads her
personality
for healthy eating with the mental health
knowledge
and beyond. We can’t wait to see where
community
culinary journey will take her because she is just
her
She has attributed her courage and
beginning.
to the mentorship, facilitation, and
motivation
of the Master Cooks Corps program.
guidance
like hers, inspire us to continue to coach and
Stories
the next round of community culinary
teach
ready to whip up solutions for overall
instructors
in the spaces they live.
wellness
SERENA'S SUCCESS
STORY