Honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week and Black Business Crawl organization, Black Kidz Can Cook and Kidz Meals on Wheels, on their dedication to helping feed children across the city of Philadelphia and showing them the importance of culinary skills.

WHEREAS, Black Kidz Can Cook and Kidz Meals on Wheels were founded by Chef Ariq Barrett; and

WHEREAS, Chef Ariq Barrett was inspired to launch Kidz Meals on Wheels after seeing children in Philadelphia who were in need of food during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to create the organization in March 2020; and

WHEREAS, With the help of Laura Lacy, who provided a space that served as the organization’s location for preparing and delivering meals, Ariq Barrett was able to deliver over 12,000 boxed lunches; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Barrett founded Black Kidz Can Cook which is a summer program that focuses on teaching kids the importance of good nutrition, cooking healthy meals, and using their culinary skills to give back to their community; and

WHEREAS, Since the launch of Black Kidz Can Cook, which started with just 10 kids, Barrett has passed on his culinary skills to over 300 kids; and

WHEREAS,

Barrett’s love for both his community and cooking is what inspired him to persevere through personal obstacles and use his culinary skills as a way to help others, which is why he thinks it is very important to pass this skill on to the next generation

; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate and honor Black Kidz Can Cook and Kidz Meals on Wheels for their dedication to feeding kids throughout the City of Philadelphia and teaching them valuable culinary skills.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy be presented to Black Kidz Can Cook and Kidz Meals on Wheels, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

End