In early 2021, an ambitious idea brought us, Pamela Murkin and Samantha Rogers together. What started as a simple conversation between two passionate Executive Directors quickly evolved into a shared vision: empowering youth with the knowledge and skills to take climate action through the universal lens of food.
Within months, we found ourselves feeding off each other's passion and excitement, grounded in shared values and a determination to dream bigger together. We didn’t just want to create another educational program; we wanted something that inspired hope, combated climate anxiety, and turned learning into tangible action. We knew we would have limited success as organizations if we approached this independently but if we harnessed the different skill sets of our teams, together we could cook up something great! 👩🏽🍳
The strength of the EcoCooks partnership comes from a foundation of openness, the assumption of good intentions, looking out for our partner organizations’ best interests in addition to our own and the program as a whole, and frequent communication. Navigating the natural hiccups of starting something new required us to embrace challenges head-on, having hard conversations that are solutions oriented and rooted in a shared commitment to big picture goals. Instead of letting obstacles divide us, we lean into those goals, constantly cheering each other on and celebrating each other's successes as if they were our own.
We have co-designed our dream, with our equally committed teams, from the ground up, creating a program that equips youth not just with knowledge but also with practical skills to act. EcoCooks is more than education, it’s empowerment. By focusing on food and food waste as key drivers of climate change, we can see them as tools of action, demonstrating how small changes can lead to significant impacts. 🌎
Four years later, EcoCooks is now thriving across Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan and Calgary with nation-wide learning opportunities set to launch later this year. Youth, parents, teachers and partners alike have responded to the energy and hope embedded in the program.
Our goal is to empower people to cook and eat in a way that nourishes both them and the planet. Whether it’s learning how to cook with seasonal produce, reducing food waste, or eating more plants, every small change adds up significantly over a week, year and life.
Lessons from Our Partnership and Co-leadership Journey:
🌱 Shared Values and Dreams: goals can grow bigger and become more achievable when they are dreamed up together among a supportive team.
🌱 Communication is Key: honest and considerate dialogue allows for collaboration, growth, and resilience through challenges.
🌱 Celebrate Each Other: Success isn’t a zero-sum game; lifting each other up creates a stronger, united front.
In the non-profit industry we are regularly tasked with accomplishing a lot, with a little. Partnerships present an opportunity to share skills and resources to ultimately achieve much more collectively. Partners hold each other accountable and inspire one another to reach their potential. As EcoCooks continues to grow, we hope to inspire other non-profits to seriously explore the potential of partnerships.
If this resonates with you and you're interested in opportunities to partner with us, let’s connect. In the meantime, we’ll be over here building toward a more sustainable future together - one meal at a time! 💚
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