Who is Bella?
Bella was my grandmother, [with whom] I was blessed to spend my childhood summers in West Memphis, Arkansas. Even though it was excruciatingly hot, every day she cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for her children and grandchildren. She sparked my love of cooking by having me by her side beginning when I was 6 years old. She passed away when I was 19 and never knew that I became a chef, so I honored her by naming my organization after her.
What separates Wellness with Bella from similar programs in the city?
The one thing that separates us the most is that we are a food program that not only teaches the life skill of cooking, but we [also] utilize food to truly bring people together. Our Cooking with Cops program helps to bridge the gap between the police and the people they serve. Our Wellness with Bella program utilizes the common thread of food to bridge the opportunity and access gaps by providing our children with the information and services they need to achieve academic success. The immediate need is hunger, but the long-term goal is success, and we believe that success is holistic.
For more information about Wellness with Bella, visit wellnesswithbella.org.
