KELLEY BLIGH - Executive Director

Kelley is a licensed master social worker and has worked with the neurodiverse population since 2014. Kelley approaches all programs and participants with a strengths-based approach, assumes participants’ competency, and creates a safe space where everyone can try new things and grow. She believes that everyone should know how to cook and that anyone can cook successfully with the right supports and resources—which is why Culikid exists. She works to make sure that everyone has the same access and opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of their diagnosis and past opportunities. The first thing Kelley learned to make in the kitchen was chocolate chip cookies. She still enjoys baking and cooking and is on a constant quest to find her next favorite recipe.

KRISTIE CABRERA-ROBLEDO - Program Manager

Kristie is a licensed occupational therapist which means that she understands how physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges can impact a person's ability to engage in meaningful activities, like cooking. Through this understanding she develops and modifies Culikid’s programs to best support participants. She is also passionate about accessibility and inclusivity and believes that cooking can be accessible to everyone given the right support and environment. When it comes to supporting participants in the kitchen, her teaching approach is grounded in the belief that it is best to meet a person where they are. The first thing Kristie learned to cook well is rice, a staple in her family’s meals. Right now, she is learning how to make different kinds of soups and finding the perfect balance of spices and seasonings.

EMAN FARIS - Program Manager

Eman is a public health advocate with eight years of experience developing and managing public health programs. She has a strong passion for nutrition and cooking, which started around 10 years old when her mom was diagnosed with diabetes. She began joining her mom in the kitchen to recreate cultural dishes that used healthier ingredients and cooking techniques. Later on, Eman decided to pursue a Bachelors and then her Masters of Public Health to help prevent disease, reduce health disparities, and improve health outcomes; especially in marginalized communities. Eman is excited to combine her passion of nutrition, cooking, and working with young people in her new role as a Program Manager at Culikid. She looks forward to connecting with participants and understanding how Culikid can improve, expand, or design programs to better meet their needs. She strongly believes that cooking is an essential life skill that everyone should be able to access and wants people to find joy in preparing a meal for themselves or to share with loved ones. The first thing Eman learned to cook as a child was pancakes! Today, breakfast is still her favorite meal of the day :).

NUJAT NAWRIN - Program Manager

Nuj is a social worker with over a decade of experience working with neurodiverse young people. Nuj has a Master of Social Work and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, which allows her to approach both programming and participants with a creative, strengths-based lens. She strives to foster a welcoming program environment where all folks can express themselves, experiment and learn, as she believes that cooking can be accessible for everyone given the right support. Nuj integrates client goals into Culikid’s program offerings and particularly enjoys finding opportunities for participants to incorporate their individual interests into recipes. The first thing Nuj learned to make in the kitchen was brownies. She loves cooking and is still experimenting with new, delicious ways to eat chocolate to this day.

MISSY DORSEY - Administrative Assistant

Missy has a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and supports operations at Culikid. She has a deep interest in other cultures and enjoys seeing how food can bring people together. With accessibility and inclusivity in mind, she believes cooking can help everyone build confidence, cultivate life skills, and foster meaningful connections. With Creole roots, the first thing Missy learned to make in the kitchen was red beans and rice. In her free time, she enjoys studying Japanese and Korean, staying active, and learning about dinosaurs with her 4 year old.

MICHELLE LAM - Occupational Therapy Facilitator

Michelle is a licensed occupational therapist from New York City. Coming from a family of chefs and restaurant owners, she grew up with food as her love language. She believes cooking is a basic life skill everyone deserves to be able to perform and is passionate about helping others feel inclusive and confident in the kitchen. In her free time she loves creating content for her cat and food Instagram page and her favorite thing to cook would be Sukiyaki. The first thing she learned how to cook was probably instant ramen — classic staple 👏🏼.

ANTON LIANG - Program Assistant

Anton is a senior at Nest+M in the Lower East Side. He has worked with CuliKid for over four years and is currently working with the Foodie Friends program. He organized 2 Five-Boro Bike Fundraiser for CuliKid, raising over $10,000 through grants and community events to support inclusive culinary initiatives. Anton first learned to cook from his grandmother, and cooking has been a key part of his life ever since. Starting with baking pies for his family's Thanksgiving gatherings, he continues to explore new recipes, enjoying dishes like pasta, dumplings, and desserts. He loves traveling around NYC and the world, discovering and trying new foods, which fuels his passion for experimenting with diverse flavors in his cooking. Passionate about accessible cooking, Anton believes that learning to cook fosters independence, creativity, and confidence, making it an essential life skill for everyone.

Denise Oliphant - Culinary Facilitator

Denise's love for cooking comes from her dad. She has wonderful memories cooking delicious meals with her dad. She studied culinary arts at New York Restaurant School. She started her career in the back of the house working both the grill and sauté stations in Greenwich, Connecticut. Later, she also worked as a pastry chef in Stamford, Connecticut. She worked her way to the front of the house from a hotel restaurant supervisor into the general manager role at Applebee’s. Currently as a chef instructor with young adults aged 17-23 years old, she prepares recipes for her chefs that they make together. Denise finds joy watching her students following her creative lead while learning the joys of the culinary world. Denise finds joy in being able to help her students develop flavorful meals. She feels a sense of pride working with young minds as they create. Cooking is a form of art. The plate is the canvas while the food is paint, and the utensils are the brushes. The first meal Denise learned to prepare was a baked ham when she was 12 years old. Her dad helped her make a delicious baked ham with cloves, honey, pineapples, while adding a splash of ginger ale to form a sweet glaze.

DARA GAR - Culinary Facilitator

Dara loves teaching others how to cook. She runs an online cooking show from her very own home studio with a focus on really helping others how to cook in a home setting. Her personal cooking philosophy is to really help someone understand food, not just learn a recipe. Dara wants to teach feel, creativity, technique, and theory, helping anyone at any stage in life feel comfortable in the kitchen and really make it their own creative playground. She especially loves teaching how to interpret and really understand an ingredient, know when and when not to break some rules, and help build you the confidence you need just to look into your fridge and find some inspiration to make something pretty incredible in a home setting. Cooking at home is an incredibly satisfying endeavor that is both creatively stimulating and fulfilling of an essential life function, and everyone deserves the ability to be able to express themselves in that way. She loves teaching a lot of dishes inspired by real Mexican techniques and traditions, especially how delicious and easy things like tortillas and homemade salsas can be in a home setting (not to mention much better than store-bought). The first thing Dara ever learned how to cook was a teriyaki chicken, and she has never looked back since.

SAM PACKER - Occupational Therapy Assistant

Samantha Packer is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant who facilitates cooking programs at Culikid. Samantha believes in the power of cooking to bring people together, and loves the inclusive nature of a kitchen. One of the first things Samantha learned to cook was cinnamon buns, but today loves to make all different types of soups. When not working, Samantha loves playing tennis, studying the Italian language, and walking in Central Park with her dog, Winnie. 

SOPHIA RIZZUTO - Nutritionist Facilitator

Sophia is a recent graduate of her nutrition masters program and is on her way to becoming a registered dietitian. Her time with Culikid began as her community rotation site in part of her dietetic internship, and she now leads some of Culikid’s virtual classes. She has grown up loving food her whole life and began to cook at a very young age. This played a large part in her decision to study nutrition all throughout her collegiate career. She is always trying new recipes and works to add nutrient-dense foods to many dishes. When it comes to food, she never asks what should be restricted from, but rather what can be added into the diet. She loves to give tips and tricks in the kitchen during her classes and supports participants with simple and fun instructions. The first thing Sophia learned to make was eggplant parmesan with her grandfather, something her family eats at almost every gathering. She loves to cook and bake in her free time and test recipes of her own.

SHAKIMA WASHINGTON - Chef Facilitator

Shakima is a certified special education teacher with a passion for cooking. As an educator, she likes guiding and revealing the potential a student didn't know they could possess. She believes all individuals regardless of disability deserve the opportunity to participate in any and every activity as their peers. Shakima grew up with her eyes glued to watching the Food Network channel. She sees chefs as artists that construct edible creations. The first dish she learned to make on her own as a kid was scrambled eggs. Her favorite food to eat is baked macaroni and cheese, and her favorite things to make are assortments of cakes and cookies. Shakima hopes to open her own bakery one day and be able to facilitate cooking lessons in the shop. When she’s not cooking, she enjoy watching crime fiction shows, reading, writing poetry, and exploring museums/exhibits.

JENNA YOSKOWITZ - Culinary Facilitator

Jenna is a Los Angeles native. She grew up in a family of teachers who had a passion for cooking, eating, gardening, and the outdoors. After maintaining countless jobs in child development, such as camp counselor and director, after school program director, as well as nannying, she decided to study education and child development, with an emphasis on differentiated learning. She went on to pursue a career as both a 2nd grade teacher and then went on to become a chef. Due to her deep passion in both areas, she decided to combine all of her passions to pursue a job teaching cooking classes to people all over New York. Her teaching philosophy is a hands- on approach. She believes cooking insights passion, creativity, and independence and strives for everyone to have access to learning and growing in the kitchen. She loves to teach students how to make everyday approachable, health forward meals such as soups, rice bowls, and healthy treats. The first thing she learned to cook was latkes from her dad when she was very young.