Bianca Belmonte-Sapien

Belmonte-Sapien's winning program idea, "The World's Cuisine: Cooking for Incarcerated Youth" provides cultural understanding, basic cooking skills, literacy and ma th development and positive reinforcement for students at the Juvenile Detention Center. Since many of the youth have problems with anger and tolerance for different people, the program uses food to open their minds to other cultures. The students will use the Internet and books to research cuisine from around the world. Each research project will culminate with a full sit down meal (prepared by the students) and observation of the customs, religion, social and political analysis of the region. Students learn skills from cooking because it requires reading and following instructions, measurement ofing redients, time and patience. In addition, many of the students are young fathers and they will learn to cook nutritious meals for their children. The project will directly benefit over 500 students and improve their learning since many of them are below grade level in reading and math. Belmonte-Sapien resides in Corrales.