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What if the most powerful tool for fighting social isolation wasn’t a program, a PowerPoint, or a policy — but a meal shared around a kitchen table?
In this episode of Do Local Good, host Yawa Idi sits down with Kathryn Way from Alberta Parenting for the Future Association (APFA) to explore how cultural cooking is breaking down barriers and building belonging in the Tri-region. Together, they unpack how a kitchen and the simple act of sharing a meal — can become a catalyst for community connection, mental health, and youth empowerment.
The conversation digs into APFA’s “Stir It Up” cultural cooking program, which uses food as a vehicle for youth development, cross-cultural connection, and mental health skill-building. From learning patience while waiting for dough to rise, to standing beside someone from a completely different background and laughing about cake pops, the kitchen becomes a place where young people discover confidence, accountability, and a genuine sense of purpose.
The discussion also explores how the program reaches Indigenous youth, newcomer families, and kids with diverse needs, weaving in Elders, the Seven Sacred Teachings, and a community fridge that gives youth a sense of contribution. In a region where rural isolation is real and resources are stretched, APFA is showing that something as simple as a recipe can spark massive change.
This episode invites listeners to reconsider what youth programming can look like when it starts with belonging rather than curriculum — and asks: What becomes possible when we give young people a seat at the table?
Alberta Parenting for the Future Association (APFA) has been strengthening family connections in the Tri-Municipal Area for 30 years. Based at the Family Connection Centre in Stony Plain and serving Spruce Grove, Parkland County, As a Provincial Family Resource Network and the Hub for the Tri-Region, APFA offers free programs for children and families from birth to age 24 — including parent workshops, infant and early childhood programs, support groups, and child and youth programs. Through the Family Connection Centre and with funding from the United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, APFA also runs food rescue initiatives, a youth mental health cooking programming.
Stir It Up is APFA’s youth mental health cooking program for grades 6–12, following the Healthy Together evidence-based model and drawing on the wisdom of Community Kitchens as natural gathering spaces. Each week, youth participate in an activity of their choice, a group discussion, and a food component — building protective factors for youth and their families as the kitchen becomes a space where young people develop confidence, accountability, patience, and genuine connections with peers from diverse backgrounds. The learning that happens together around food translates directly into basic life skills that support youth in going from surviving to thriving. The design of the program supports newcomer youth, Indigenous youth and those with disabilities.
Every Wednesday, APFA’s Food Rescue Program provides free food to families across Parkland County, Stony Plain, and Spruce Grove — no registration required, open to anyone. Food is sourced from the local food bank and distributed at the Family Connection Centre. The program is also woven into the Stir It Up cooking series, where youth prepare and package meals for the community fridge, connecting them directly to the real impact of their work. Volunteers are always welcome to help with food rescue days and packaging.
United Way’s GenNEXT is a volunteer-led initiative designed to inspire the next generation of leaders to drive meaningful change in our community.
Learn MoreThank you to Kathryn Way from Alberta Parenting for the Future Association for sharing your story, your experience, and your deep commitment to youth and community.
We also extend our appreciation to the entire APFA team for your continued commitment to serving families across the Tri-Municipal Area with creativity, care, and cultural humility, and for partnering with United Way of the Alberta Capital Region to strengthen support systems for youth and families.
And to every listener – thank you for tuning in and continuing to champion what it means to do local good.
