This class will encourage you to embrace food as an expression of culture. Create meals that incorporate ingredients from traditional southern Black American soul food – black-eyed peas and rice, collard greens, cornbread, gumbo, and smothered chicken. There will be two sessions each week with the first class providing the history and health benefits of each dish, and the second session being a guided cooking tutorial. As Chef Toya’s mama would say “You need food to eat right? You better cook something!” Build life skills (including budgeting and meal planning) that will help provide for yourself and your families. Students are responsible for purchasing ingredients required for the class. The ingredient lists will be provided after registration. Adult supervision or participation is required.