About Us
Our Mission
We believe in the power of the kitchen to teach more than recipes — it teaches leadership, confidence, and care for others.
Through hands-on culinary experiences, mentorship, and community events, A Kid and A Kitchen equips young people to lead, serve, and grow.
Through hands-on culinary experiences, mentorship, and community events, A Kid and A Kitchen equips young people to lead, serve, and grow.
“When a kid steps into the kitchen, they’re not just learning how to cook — they’re learning how to lead.”
— Adell Kirkwood III, co Founder
“When you give a child a recipe, you feed their imagination. When you teach them to cook, you feed their future.” — Chef Jayaun Smith
Our Recent Programs
Popular Programs
Our signature program teaches students essential kitchen techniques, nutrition, and leadership skills.
From toy drives to meal giveaways, our youth-led initiatives teach generosity and service.
We host free quarterly Open Houses that are open to the community, where children can experience A Kid & A Kitchen through engaging, hands-on culinary activities.
Testimonials
What People Say
“We are excited to endorse A Kid and A Kitchen and its commitment to serving the youth at Hope Center KC. Our staff and students enjoy working with the two talented chefs, Adel and Jay, as they bring their culinary skills and passion to our kitchen. These chefs do an outstanding job of sharing their life stories while teaching practical cooking techniques, helping our youth develop essential life skills. Our students enjoy learning, cooking, and eating alongside their peers while developing the independence and culinary skills they can carry into their own homes.”
Volunteer Opportunities
We welcome chefs, mentors, and community members to share their time and talents.you can help us by, Assist in cooking classes, Mentor youth participants, Help organize events or drives