La Cocina: Culinary Dreams Meet Community Impact

Celebrating the nonprofit that’s transforming lives, one entrepreneur at a time

What a joy it was to celebrate Creative Work Fund’s 30th Year Anniversary at the “Celebrating Creative Work Fund, Celebrating You” event. And we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect partner than La Cocina and their incredible food entrepreneurs to cater the party.

La Cocina holds a special place in our hearts as a Bay Area nonprofit that’s truly transforming lives and communities. W&EHF awarded a 7-year grant to La Cocina as part of the Endeavor Fund, an initiative that supports organizations working to close the race and gender wealth gap. They’re tackling one of the most pressing issues of economic well-being – equity in business ownership – by opening doors for women, immigrants, and people of color in the food industry. Through affordable kitchen spaces, thoughtful training, essential resources, and a nurturing community, they are helping passionate entrepreneurs turn their culinary dreams into thriving businesses.

We especially love how La Cocina’s catering program becomes a beautiful showcase of the diverse talent within the community. From entrepreneurs just starting their journey to James Beard-nominated chefs, each brings their own story, heritage, and flavors to the table – literally.

Our guests were treated to a true feast that took us on a journey around the world, enjoying the rich tapestry of cultures that make our Bay Area community so vibrant.

We started our morning with the warmth of breakfast from Mi Comedor and The Baking Endeavor.

Lunch became a global celebration with dishes from Nusa (Indonesian), Tilin Tilin (Panamanian), and Mama Lamees (Middle Eastern/Palestinian).

Throughout the event, we savored appetizers lovingly prepared by Camucha’s Kitchen (Peruvian) and Alma y Sazon (Vegan Mexican).

La Cocina beautifully captures their purpose: “When these populations have greater access to opportunities, our entire economy benefits. We exist to create a community of food entrepreneurs working not only for their own success but for the benefit of their families, neighbors, and the generations to come.” This vision resonates deeply with us because it’s about so much more than individual success; it’s about lifting entire communities.

When these populations have greater access to opportunities, our entire economy benefits.

Guided by their core values of Community, Inclusivity, Hospitality, and Opportunity, La Cocina creates spaces where working-class entrepreneurs can flourish. They provide commercial kitchen access and programming at rates that don’t break the bank, while offering the kind of support that makes dreams achievable – from skill development to capital access to business establishment guidance. Their reach extends far beyond the Bay Area, too, as they share their expertise with organizations around the world, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

The numbers from 2024 tell an inspiring story of impact:

• 86 active businesses thriving in their ecosystem
• $17.3 million in annual revenue generated by these entrepreneurs
• Over 250 jobs created, translating to $5.8 million in total wages flowing into our communities

These aren’t just statistics. These figures represent families supported, dreams realized, and communities strengthened.