Kind Minds Family Wellness believes that strong communities grow through connection, often around a shared table. For almost 6 years, Kind Minds has been engaged in trauma-informed work serving the Black community, who often struggle with Eurocentric interventions void of cultural inclusion. Their work draws on substantial evidence that effective support for the Black community must be grounded in cultural identity and respect.
With a grant from the Kindred Credit Union Charitable Fund, Kind Minds is continuing to expand programs that bring people together through food, culture, and community. For more than three and a half years, Kind Minds has offered global cooking classes that create opportunities for participants to learn new skills, build friendships, and celebrate the diversity of Waterloo Region.
Led by community members from a variety of cultural backgrounds, the classes invite participants to prepare and enjoy dishes from around the world while hearing the stories and traditions connected to them. “It’s more than cooking,” says Omowunmi Ewebiyi, Operations and Engagement Specialist at Kind Minds. “People come together, share experiences, and build relationships. Food has a wonderful way of helping people feel connected and welcomed.”
The popularity of the program continues to grow. Kind Minds is expanding the initiative to include two concurrent cooking classes in Kitchener, running on the second and last Friday of each month. The additional classes will allow more individuals and families to participate while creating even more opportunities for community connection.
The grant is also helping to support Kind Minds’ gardening initiatives, which encourage healthy living, environmental stewardship, and hands-on learning. Participants work together to plant, maintain, and harvest community gardens while learning about sustainable food practices and nutrition.
The gardens and cooking classes naturally complement one another. Fresh, culturally-appropriate produce grown through the gardening program can be incorporated into recipes, while participants gain a deeper appreciation for where food comes from and how it can bring people together.
For Kindred Credit Union, supporting initiatives like these reflects a longstanding commitment to community wellbeing and mutual aid. “Programs like these create spaces where people can learn from one another, feel a sense of belonging, and build meaningful relationships,” says Omowunmi. “We’re grateful for the support that helps us continue and grow this work.”
At Kindred, we believe healthy communities are built through compassion, connection, and shared experiences. The work of Kind Minds Family Wellness is a meaningful example of those values in action, cultivating spaces where neighbours become friends, cultures are celebrated, and community continues to flourish.