Paris Woods Receives Scholarship for Video Cooking Series

Paris Woods, a Loy Norrix High School junior who launched Paris’s Kitchen, a video cooking series on social media last spring, has been rewarded for her efforts with a $3,000 scholarship from the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (Milk Means More). At the start of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, Woods began producing and posting cooking demonstration videos featuring ingredients from weekly school lunch distributions.

With the food from Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS), Comstock Public Schools and Portage Public Schools remote lunch distribution, she cooks delicious, healthy meals, encouraging others to do the same. Milk Means More recognized her cooking talent and the good she was doing for the community and awarded her with a $3,000 scholarship.

When Paris first began to think about making cooking videos, she and her mother Melody Woods, a program coordinator for Kalamazoo Valley Community College, enlisted the help of Kalamazoo Valley’s Lizzie Luchsinger, program coordinator, chef and culinary coach. “I’m doing this to get more kids to eat the veggies that come in the bags, lessen the amount of food going in the trash, and to remove the stigma around getting free lunch,” Woods explained. “It is okay to get these meals. They are pretty good, and you can even make something delicious out of them if you love to cook like I do. I want other kids to make their own yummy creations.”

Melody Woods noted that while food programs and pantry donations do address hunger, food may go to waste if recipients aren’t familiar with the ingredients. “The schools have been so busy trying to feed students through the pandemic, they have not had the resources to get recipes, nutrition, cooking and storage tips to the families, she said. “That’s why we thought it made sense to promote Paris’ cooking videos with these additional resources to help the families receiving these meals out.”

In addition to KPS, project collaborators include Bronson’s Community Health, Equity and Inclusion department. Luchsinger said Woods’ project fits perfectly with existing Kalamazoo Valley initiatives. Since the fall of 2019, the college’s Community Culinary and Nutrition department has been contracted by Bronson to fulfill a SNAP-Ed/Michigan Fitness Foundation-funded community nutrition and culinary education project.

Luchsinger said she’s proud of Woods and pleased about the recognition she’s receiving. “Paris is an exceptional person. Her humble dedication to serving community is truly inspiring. She is a problem solver and faces unique challenges with focus, creativity, calm - and that humor of hers all mixed in. She prepares dishes that are professional level, but are crafted with ingredients that are widely available in our community - like those she uses from the school food programs. No doubt she has a bright future, and our community owes her a debt of gratitude for her vision, dedication, kindness and commitment. She is a bright star.”

Christine Flood, Health Education Supervisor from Bronson, also praised Woods’ vision and commitment. “Bronson’s mission is to advance the health of our communities,” Flood said. “We are thrilled to be part of and support Paris's Kitchen, which addresses three identified health-related needs brought forth in our Kalamazoo Community Health Needs Assessment: lack of or limited access to healthy food, a need for more food education for youth, and a desire for community connectedness. The Paris's Kitchen program, funded by a SNAP-Ed grant with additional funding provided by the Bronson Health Foundation, is a way for local teens and families to virtually connect with and learn from one of their peers who is supported with expertise from the Kalamazoo Valley Community College. We're very proud of Paris and our partnership and can't wait to see what Paris is cooking up in 2021.”

Melody Woods is also proud of her daughter. “She’s not an extrovert. This isn’t like anything she’s ever done before, but when she feels very passionate about a cause, she springs into action.”

“I like to cook a lot,” Paris said. “I really like to create different meals and to use different ingredients.”

Melody said the scholarship has sparked conversations at home about Paris’s plans for college. “I want to go to Kalamazoo Valley Community College to study culinary arts and baking,” the 17-year-old said. Until then, she will continue to produce and post videos on Facebook and Instagram to encourage other young chefs. Follow her at https://www.facebook.com/Pariswkitchen.

Photo (above: L-R) Melody and Paris Woods