In early June, the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University hosted its 5th Annual Food Ed Coalition Awards Ceremony. This beloved event brought together educators, youth advocates, community leaders, and food service professionals to honor their contributions to building a healthier, more equitable food system. With opening remarks from Council Member Gale Brewer, the event spotlighted the critical role of food education in improving health and food access in New York City. Below we have highlighted the award winners from this year.
Award Highlights
Outstanding Youth Food Justice Advocate: Rashaun Buchanan
A driving force at the Mary Mitchell Center’s Youth Food Justice Club, Rashaun has spent over three years empowering high school and college students in the Bronx to become educators and advocates. From hydroponic farming and farmers markets to counter marketing campaigns and public speaking, his leadership nurtures youth-led change grounded in equity and opportunity. His impact reflects a deep commitment to community empowerment, and we are proud to honor him with this award.
Outstanding Youth Food Justice Advocate: Ryan Tang
As a Columbia University freshman and alum of the New Roots Institute Leadership Academy, Ryan has demonstrated how youth advocacy can reshape institutional policies. His initiative to bring plant-based milk dispensers to campus has expanded access to healthy, inclusive options. Grounded in humility, intellect, and purpose, Ryan is a standout leader at the intersection of sustainability, food systems, and equity.
Cafeteria Hero: Ismat Shiekh
Ismat exemplifies dedication, leadership, and heart in school food service. Over more than two decades, she has risen through the ranks—from School Lunch Helper to Cook, and now Cook Manager—through hard work, a positive attitude, and a genuine passion for student well-being. She has built a joyful, efficient kitchen that consistently receives top ratings—and rising student meal participation is a direct reflection of her work. Beloved by students and staff alike, Ismat's leadership fosters community, wellness, and pride at her school.
Outstanding Food and Nutrition Educator: Chef Kent
Chef Kent has transformed food education for thousands of Bronx and Manhattan students by integrating culinary skills with cultural relevance and food justice. His work helps young people connect with their heritage while embracing healthy habits, and his classroom is a model for hands-on, empowering instruction. Known for his generosity and warmth, Chef Kent uplifts the broader school community with his collaborative spirit and creativity. From designing adaptable, nutritious recipes for families to creating handmade bulletin boards that celebrate Indigenous contributions, he uses food as a tool for learning, pride, and ultimately, social awareness.
Outstanding Food and Nutrition Educator: Chef Love
A 2024–2025 NYCPS Food Grant recipient and longtime food literacy advocate, Chef Love has redefined what food education can look like at her school. Her work—from classroom cooking demos and urban farming to community food rescue partnerships—connects students with real-world experiences and nutritious, exciting food. With over 470 online lessons and a calendar full of field trips, Chef Love is helping her students build lifelong skills and a genuine love for healthy eating.
Joan Dye Gussow, EdD Lifetime Achievement Award: Kathy Soll
Kathy is a visionary leader whose deep compassion and relentless drive have shaped a powerful legacy of youth empowerment and food justice. In 2013, she founded Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ)—a student-run movement that now operates hydroponic farms in 19 schools across New York City. These farms produce tens of thousands of pounds of fresh food each, serving not just as sources of nutrition, but as hubs of leadership, learning, and community healing.
Under Kathy’s leadership, TFFJ has grown into a force for systemic change, launching multi-campus hubs and creating opportunities like food policy internships to center student voices. Her work is rooted in equity, trust, and collaboration, inspiring students and adults alike to believe in their power to create change. As she retires and steps into a new chapter of life, Kathy leaves behind not just a thriving organization, but a movement—one that continues to grow, quite literally, in every community she helped nourish.
Each year, the Food Ed Coalition Awards Ceremony honors the real impact of food education in schools and communities. This year, we were thrilled to receive an abundance of powerful nominations—a testament to the growing reach and impact of food education. The honorees showed how teaching about food can promote equity, build community, and drive meaningful change.
As the movement grows, so does our commitment to ensuring that all young people have access to good food and the opportunity to help shape a more just food system.