The aroma of pancakes filled the air as participants eagerly mixed ingredients, breaking into song as they worked. The lively atmosphere was part of an inclusive cooking class held at Coffee Inclusive in downtown Pittston, designed for people with disabilities.
Karen Hughes observed with pride as her daughter, Heather Hughes, took part in the class. “I am a proud mom,” she expressed, snapping photos of Heather as she poured batter into bowls.
Flour dusted faces and tables, while vibrant food dye colored hands, as participants at the class, held to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, learned to make red, white, and blue pancakes. The event, complete with a festive drink served in a star-shaped straw, was a highlight for attendees.
These cooking classes were spearheaded by students from the University of Scranton’s distance speech-language pathology master’s program, launched in 2023. The students, who have just completed their first year, hosted these sessions on four summer Wednesday evenings.
“This partnership with Coffee Inclusive aligns with the university’s mission, which is to align their academic coursework with service to the community. Our students are able to work on communication skills in a fun setting, like a cooking group, like tonight,” explained Tara Carito, the program’s clinical education coordinator.
Although primarily conducted remotely, the students gathered in Scranton for three weeks to acquire hands-on clinical experience at various locations, including Coffee Inclusive.
Hands-On Learning Experience
“Now we can go ahead and start mixing the batter,” guided graduate student Julia Gallo, as she led participants through the process, from measuring flour to adding food dye, culminating in pouring the batter onto baking sheets.
Julia Gallo, who eagerly returned for another inclusive cooking class, appreciated the chance to implement her first-year speech-language pathology skills. “Since everybody communicates differently, some people may not verbally communicate, so we include gestures or visuals,” she explained. “Some may use sign language, so we incorporate that. We try to get everybody to communicate with each other.”
The experience at Coffee Inclusive differed from other programs, as they worked with adults instead of children. Graduate student Brenna Diehl noted, “We’re seeing all of our peers’ talents and passions shine, and so it’s cool to see just how well everybody’s getting along with each other, and the people we’re working with, and just seeing them thrive in this environment.”
Fostering Confidence and Independence
The cooking classes offered more than just culinary skills, instilling confidence in participants like Heather Hughes, who now enjoys cooking at home. “I like doing things at the house. When I go home after I get out of day program, I try to make stuff at the house,” she shared, having started to cook for her family as well.
Her mother, Karen Hughes, observed the transformation, noting, “She’s learning a lot how to cook at home now, and do things that she didn’t know what to do.”
Heather Hughes also formed a friendship with Brian Boston, a fellow barista and the resident chef at Coffee Inclusive.
Brian Boston, who manages ADHD, shared his journey of becoming a chef to help others, having realized his limitations as a police officer. Armed with a culinary degree from Luzerne County Community College, Boston found joy in watching participants develop skills.
“With my disability, which I have ADHD, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to become a police officer, so I decided to become a chef to help people instead,” Boston said. Participants of his classes often return, showcasing learned skills such as safe knife handling.
Starting in August, Boston will host monthly inclusive cooking classes at Coffee Inclusive, and a new location will open at United Neighborhood Centers’ CEDAR Center in South Scranton this September.
The class concluded with each participant receiving a recipe book containing all class recipes. Participants celebrated with cheers and laughter, enjoying their culinary creations and the company of new friends.
Reflecting on the experience, Gallo shared, “Any community, everybody experiences different hardships, and it’s definitely important to have in every community. It just really brings everybody together and includes everybody in the community, no matter what they experience.”
