Adwa and her older sister came to the U.S. as refugees in January 2016. They fled Saudi Arabia because of its oppressive environment for women. At just 18 years of age, Adwa left her parents and younger sister behind.
Introducing: Emma's Torch Classroom Cafe
Food Fight: Kerry's Keynote Address at the Philly Chef Conference
Food Fight: The Power of the Culinary Industry in the Fight for Social Justice
Ladies and gentlemen, I am so thrilled to be with you all today.
There is an old Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Looking daily at the newspaper and my facebook feed is a reminder of just how interesting these times are. For many of us in this room, these are times that have drawn into focus what we think, what we believe, and what we will fight for.
But while I have the luxury of standing in front of you, trying not to trip in my high heels, the communities that I work with face far more daunting challenges. Being a refugee in the 21st century is knowing that while we have made so many advances in technology, medicine, and culture, we still have so far to go when it comes to the rights of others.
Kerry's Speech at JDS High School Graduation
Parents, grandparents, educators, the great class of 2017. I am so honored to be here.
Some professors ominously tell their students “look to the right, look to the left. By the end of the semester one of you will have dropped out.” What I can say today is “look to your left, look to your right, you are sitting next to the people who will walk you down the aisle at your weddings, hold your hands when you need it, and be your lifelong friends.”
One of my favorite JDS memories was in 2004 when the seniors took over the loudspeaker, and proceeded to give away the ending to every book on the English curriculum. Spoiler alert: Romeo and Juliet--dead. Gatsby--dead. Oh, and don’t even get me started on “Of Mice and Men.”
URGENT: Take Action for Refugees Today
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, the tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!-Emma Lazarus
Dear friends,
Today is a dark day for America. A nation which has long been a haven for the persecuted and the disenfranchised is turning its back on its principles of diversity and inclusion.
Launch Party Photos Are Here!
These photos brought back great memories of our launch party just a few weeks ago at Brooklyn FoodWorks. Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special thanks to all those who made the evening possible, including Soom Foods, JARS by Dani, Jessie's Nutty Cups, and VOS Wines.
To see all the photos, head over to the album on our Facebook page.
ICYMI: Kerry's speech from our launch event!
Thank you all so much for joining us this evening.
Over the last year I have gotten to know a very special person. No, I am not talking about my fabulous husband (thanks Tomer!) or our new neighbors in New York, but rather my new gal pal, Ms. Emma Lazarus.
For those you who have not met Emma, we are experiencing her legacy tonight, in this very room.
Emma Lazarus lived in a world filled with unrest and strife. Born into a wealthy Jewish family in the 1800s, she could have easily let her gender or position in society stop her from engaging in social justice.
PieShell: A New Partner!
We're delighted to announce that Emma’s Torch has been selected to be PieShell's new non-profit partner!
PieShell is a crowdfunding platform for food and beverage startups. Since inception, PieShell has been committed to giving 1% of their proceeds to a non-profit. Given our shared values of helping others help themselves in the food and beverage world, we couldn’t be happier to be working with the PieShell team!
“While there are numerous wonderful food and beverage charitable organizations supporting those in need, Kerry is why we chose Emma’s Torch as our nonprofit partner. Her infectious passion to help people is what sets her and Emma’s Torch apart. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of it, and to make a difference in the culinary space.”
See more about our partnership on PieShell's blog.
We're Having a Party!
We're delighted to announce a special party on December 18. This will be a celebration of our first cohort of students and it will also be a launch party for Emma's Torch.
Please join us at Brooklyn FoodWorks from 6-8 pm. There, you'll taste appetizers and desserts prepared by our students. You'll also get to know them: where they came from, what they do now, and what they dream of doing tomorrow.
We have limited capacity, so please get your tickets today! All proceeds from the event support refugee empowerment programs.
Tibetan Thupka
Kelsang Dolma
Name is Kelsang Dolma. I was born in Nepal but my heritage is Tibetan. My family and I now live in New York. This recipe was from my mother. We make this soup when it's cold outside. We make it a lot and drink it with all the family together.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of spinach, bok choy, or any other greens
- 1 radish
- 1 onion
- Garlic and ginger, to taste
- Mutton (optional)
- Garam masala, cumin, and turmeric, to taste
- Dumpling dough, cut into small pieces (either flat and very thin pieces or 1 by 2 inch cubes)
Directions:
- Boil the meat, if using, in the water with onion, garlic, ginger, and salt, until meat is thoroughly cooked.
- Put the small pieces of dough in the soup for 5 minutes.
- Cut radish into thin pieces, two inches long
- Put the radish into the soup and cook for two minutes
- Add spinach and bok choy, and cook for five minutes.