{"id":517738,"date":"2026-02-23T07:38:03","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.annapolisnewsupdates.com\/news\/story\/517738\/poughkeepsie-city-school-district-community-schools-initiative-in-partnership-with-charlia-frank-inc-and-local-vendors-brings-a-celebrity-culinary-experience-to-middle-school-students.html"},"modified":"2026-02-23T07:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T07:38:03","slug":"poughkeepsie-city-school-district-community-schools-initiative-in-partnership-with-charlia-frank-inc-and-local-vendors-brings-a-celebrity-culinary-experience-to-middle-school-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/story\/517738\/poughkeepsie-city-school-district-community-schools-initiative-in-partnership-with-charlia-frank-inc-and-local-vendors-brings-a-celebrity-culinary-experience-to-middle-school-students.html","title":{"rendered":"Poughkeepsie City School District Community Schools Initiative, in partnership with Charlia Frank Inc. and local vendors, brings a celebrity culinary experience to middle school students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Poughkeepsie, NY – February 23, 2026 – <\/strong>Students at Poughkeepsie Middle School recently received a taste of something extraordinary as the Poughkeepsie City School District Community Schools Initiative,<\/strong> alongside Charlia Frank Inc<\/strong>., local restaurant partners, and community vendors, hosted a star-powered culinary experience led by celebrity private chef and wellness expert Chef Maureen Brice.<\/p>\n

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Teachers, students, local restaurant partners, and community supporters — including Kevin Paige of Freeflight Productions<\/strong> — came together to create a memorable, hands-on learning experience. The program culminated in a fully prepared sit-down dinner that students helped create alongside Chef Maureen Brice and participating local chefs, giving everyone the opportunity to share a meal and celebrate the power of collaboration, culture, and learning.<\/p>\n

More than a cooking class, this program helped students build life skills and envision new opportunities for growth and success. Through the Culinary Cultures & Class with Mama La’s<\/em> program, local chefs stood alongside Chef Maureen Brice, the Mo Flames Restaurant, Geneva’s House of Blues, and other community partners to pour into the youth — teaching valuable skills, building confidence, and opening doors to future opportunities.<\/p>\n

Charlia Frank Inc.<\/strong> is proud to continue expanding its culinary program series at Poughkeepsie Middle School<\/strong>, offering immersive cooking experiences that spark curiosity, confidence, and creativity. A key partner in this initiative is Mama La’s Food for the Soul, whose collaboration helped bring the Culinary Cultures & Class with Mama La’s<\/em> program to life.<\/p>\n

Together, these partners are making a meaningful investment in the future of Poughkeepsie’s youth, using food as a gateway to education, cultural exploration, and community connection.<\/p>\n

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A Chef with a Global Resume<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chef Maureen Brice<\/strong> has built an impressive career serving some of the world’s most celebrated artists. She traveled internationally as private chef for P!nk during the Beautiful Trauma World Tour<\/em> and has worked with artists including Kanye West, Jay-Z, Robbie Williams, Jimmy Buffett, and Aerosmith. When not touring, she serves private clients in the Hamptons, specializing in farm-to-table cuisine and personalized wellness experiences. Her passion now extends to mentoring young people and inspiring the next generation.<\/p>\n

From the Kitchen to Opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n

The initiative will culminate in the creation of a community cookbook featuring student-inspired menus that reflect the creativity, culture, and diversity of Poughkeepsie’s youth.<\/p>\n

About Charlia Frank Incorporated<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlia Frank Inc<\/strong>. is committed to empowering young people through innovative programs that promote creativity, personal growth, and community engagement. By partnering with schools, community leaders, and industry professionals — including local businesses like Mama La’s Food for the Soul — the organization helps youth build confidence, discover their talents, and imagine limitless futures.<\/p>\n

For further enquiries visit website: https:\/\/charliafrankinc.org<\/a> or send an email via info@charliafrankinc.org <\/a><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Kevin Paige (Freeflight Productions)<\/em><\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/span>
Company Name:<\/strong> Charlia Frank Inc (2)<\/a>
Contact Person:<\/strong> Media Relations
Email:<\/strong> Send Email<\/a>
Country:<\/strong> United States
Website:<\/strong> www.charliafrankinc.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Poughkeepsie, NY – February 23, 2026 – Students at Poughkeepsie Middle School recently received a taste of something extraordinary as the Poughkeepsie City School District Community Schools Initiative, alongside Charlia Frank<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517738"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=517738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/517738\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=517738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=517738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atlanta-chronicle.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=517738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}