Our Story

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Our Story *

JS Culinary Group was born from a simple but powerful belief: food is more than nourishment, it’s a pathway to learning, connection, and well-being.

Founder Justin Simmons began his journey working at the intersection of culinary arts, public health, and education, where he saw firsthand how food could spark curiosity in classrooms, strengthen community bonds, and support healthier outcomes for students and families. Through years of designing and leading programs in schools and community organizations across New York City, one thing became clear: when food is approached with intention, it becomes a powerful tool for education and equity.

What started as hands-on cooking lessons and wellness programming grew into a broader mission: to create accessible, culturally responsive food experiences that meet people where they are. JS Culinary Group was established to bring this vision to life, offering in-school culinary education, inclusive programs for neurodiverse learners, workplace dining, and community-centered events.

Today, JS Culinary Group partners with schools, organizations, and businesses to deliver thoughtful, engaging experiences rooted in health, culture, and care. Whether in a classroom, workplace, or community space, our work is guided by joy, inclusion, and impact using food to educate, empower, and bring people together.

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Our Approach

The Problem

Healthy, sustainable futures remain out of reach for many children, families, and communities across New York City. Too often, access to food and environmental education, affordable fresh foods, and safe green spaces is limited or nonexistent. These barriers disproportionately affect historically under-resourced communities of color, where long-standing food, educational, health, and environmental inequities were further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Local and national data continue to highlight alarming levels of food insecurity, learning loss, and social-emotional and mental health challenges facing NYC students and families today.

A February 2023 CDC report found that half of American children under 5 years old don’t eat a single vegetable daily, and one-third don’t eat a single daily fruit.

At JS Culinary Group, our mission is to nourish minds, bodies, and communities by partnering with schools and community organizations across New York City to deliver hands-on culinary and food education. Through immersive cooking, nutrition, and food exploration learning experiences, we help students and families build healthy, meaningful relationships with food, their culture, and their environment.

Research shows that students who participate in experiential learning programs, such as cooking and nutrition, consume significantly more fruits and vegetables during school meals than their peers with limited hands-on exposure. Our programs harness this proven approach, using food as a powerful entry point for learning, wellness, and lifelong habit-building.

Positioned at the intersection of nutrition, wellness, and sustainability education, JS Culinary Group programs equip students with practical skills and knowledge in cooking, nutrition, and healthy eating. School classrooms serve as both food production spaces and a Test Kitchen supporting culinary instruction while providing inclusive, engaging Culinary experience spaces for the entire school community.

National research and our own program evaluations consistently demonstrate the impact of this work, including increased confidence in preparing healthy meals, stronger preferences for plant-forward foods, and a greater willingness to try new ingredients. The more hands-on and consistent the experience, the deeper and more lasting the change in students’ attitudes, behaviors, and overall relationship with food.

Our Solution