Team Lead Spotlight: Leanne, Heat of the Kitchen

Opportunities for All (OFA) Team Leads serve as supervisors and mentors for interns. Leanne, a recent grad of SF State, chose to work with Opportunities for All because she wanted to be somewhere she felt would have an impact on the young people of San Francisco. 

She was drawn to OFA because of her belief in its mission: providing opportunities to young people who might otherwise not have access to them. Working as a Team Lead at Heat of the Kitchen, a San Francisco-based organization that teaches high school-aged students how to cook, she has seen first-hand the impact these programs have on the lives of young students. 

The internships extend far beyond teaching basic cooking skills. “Students get the opportunity to learn how to work as a team, manage their time well, and think ahead,” said Leanne. She has been surprised by their willingness to open up to share ideas and feelings, and empowered by how they always put in 100% effort.

Not only is Leanne helping teach students, but she is learning new skills herself. “Some of the most valuable lessons I have learned are ones that can’t be taught in a classroom like conflict resolution, making people feel comfortable, or thinking on my feet.” She has also learned how to walk the fine line between friend and mentor, between strict and kind. 

One of Leanne’s favorite parts about working at Heat of the Kitchen is seeing the students’ energy rise throughout the day as they find unexpected enjoyment in cooking and being a part of the community. At the end of the day, they finally get to share a meal they all made together.