A Mother’s Day Tradition Rooted in Love

In 2009, I lost my mother to cancer. Mother’s Day had always been a special time for us, and I made it a point to show her how much she meant to me. One day, while she was in the hospital, she shared that she had never received roses in her life. From that moment, I brought her a dozen roses every day. That memory and her joy inspired me to create a tradition that would honor mothers everywhere.

In 2018, I decided to host a free Mother’s Day cooking class for youth of all ages. My original plan was to invite 10 children and their parents to the upstairs apartment of my barbershop in North Philly. But to my surprise, 14 students showed up! I asked Chef Kareem of Kravingz Kitchen and purchased enough food for 28 people from the grocery store . Each child received a $20 gift card and an ingredient list with instructions to help them create a special Mother’s Day brunch for their moms. The event was a success, filled with laughter, learning, and love.

Though the pandemic paused our plans in 2019, we came back stronger in 2020. This time, 25 students and their parents joined us in a new, larger space in Manayunk. Seeing families bond, watching kids light up as they prepared meals for their moms, and hearing stories of mothers posting their children’s creations made it all worthwhile.

By 2022, the program had grown to serve 50 youth. The joy of seeing families interact, youth learning new skills like cooking, and mothers feeling appreciated continues to fuel this initiative. Last year, in 2023, we partnered with the Strawberry Mansion Community Center to expand our reach.

Now, as we plan for this year’s event, we aim to make an even greater impact. With your support, we can continue to provide this positive, uplifting experience for the youth and their families. Help us keep this tradition alive and growing. Together, we can make Mother’s Day unforgettable for these deserving families.

They have the power to rewrite their story. Together, we’re proving that with the right support, there’s no limit to what these young people can achieve.

Mother’s Day Cooking class for the youth

Team Members