Teaching kitchen coming to Hughes Center
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A large number of a hospital’s patients are treated for avoidable health problems, with many of those traced to what we eat. For many of us, we didn’t learn enough about healthy foods or how to prepare them.Or we simply forgot in our grab-n-go, fast-food culture.
The Cleveland Clinic hopes to change that by making a big investment in developing the Langston Hughes Community Health Food Services, 2390 E. 79th St., near the Clinic’s main campus in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood.
The investment, about $1.6 million, is an acknowledgment that lives can be improved through transformative culinary and lifestyle education. And it is an recognition that this goal cannot always be achieved on our own.
“We’re so excited about this happening,” said Jacqueline Bailey, senior director of community health at the Cleveland Clinic. “It’s been in the works for several years. One of the top Clinic priorities is healthy foods, especially for children so we can improve health behaviors and address things like chronic obesity.”
Clinic staff chose the Langston Hughes Community Health and Ed
Cleveland Clinic to Expand Community Health Programs with New Teaching Kitchen at Langston Hughes Center
the Cleveland Clinic is expanding its community health initiatives with the addition of a teaching kitchen at its Langston Hughes Center, located on East 79th Street in Cleveland. The new kitchen will build upon a accomplished pilot program already in operation at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center, offering expanded capacity and resources for community members to learn about healthy cooking and nutrition.
Project Details and Scope
According to a building application, the project involves rebuilding a multipurpose community room at the rear of the Hughes Center.The space will be transformed into an instructional area, accompanied by two new office rooms and a pantry, utilizing an existing preparatory kitchen as a base. https://neo-trans.blog/2025/12/langston-hughes-center-teaching-kitchen/
The renovation will encompass a complete overhaul of the space, including:
* New appliances
* New millwork and countertops
* Updated flooring, wall, and ceiling finishes
* Modernized mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems
The exterior of the Langston Hughes Center will remain unchanged by the project.
building on a Successful Pilot Program
The cleveland Clinic has already been operating a teaching kitchen at the Stephanie Tubbs jones Health Center (13944 Euclid Ave., East Cleveland). However, this initial kitchen is limited in space, accommodating only five or six participants, and classes frequently reach full capacity.
“We learned a lot from that kitchen and modeled the Hughes Center after another kitchen at Boston Medical (center),” stated Bailey, referencing the Clinic’s approach to designing the new facility. The Tubbs Jones kitchen will continue to operate alongside the new location at the Hughes Center, expanding the Clinic’s reach and impact.
Focus on Community health and Nutrition Education
the expansion of the teaching kitchen program reflects the Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to addressing social determinants of health and promoting wellness within the communities it serves. Teaching kitchens are increasingly recognized as valuable tools for empowering individuals to make informed food choices and adopt healthier lifestyles. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/programs-impact/communities/food-access/index.htm (CDC information on food access and community health)
Key Takeaways
* The Cleveland Clinic is adding a teaching kitchen to its Langston Hughes Center.
* The project will repurpose existing space at the rear of the building.
* The new kitchen is modeled after a successful pilot program at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center and a kitchen at Boston Medical Center.
* The expansion aims to increase capacity and provide more community members with access to nutrition education.
The new teaching kitchen at the Langston Hughes Center is poised to become a valuable resource for the cleveland community, offering opportunities for learning, skill-building, and improved health outcomes. The Cleveland Clinic’s continued investment in these types of programs demonstrates its dedication to holistic healthcare and community well-being.
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