Rookies Love Cookies!

One of many great messages expressed by a group of Cookie Cart film makers in their award winning video “Baking Bright Futures”. The teens are a part of Cookie Cart’s employment and training program and were challenged by Taronda Richardson, Cookie Cart Program Director, to create a video that expressed their experiences at Cookie Cart.

The video won 1st prize in Youthprise’s Mobilize the Power of Youth Video Contest, whose goal was for nonprofits to create a video detailing how their organization enlivens, empowers, and engages young people.

Centered on a rap written by teens, the Cookie Cart’s video showed Jakari’s experiencing applying to Cookie Cart and his first days working.

“The video was not very far from the reality of what teens go through in applying for our employment and training program,” commented Taronda Richardson, Cookie Cart program director. “It was a pleasure to coach the young people and then to step back and let them go. They created a very important glimpse into their experiences.”

Volunteer Paul Vincent shot and edited the video, volunteer Kyle Norell assisted with development and youth employees Antonio Williams and Curtis Nelson composed the music. They worked with a team of five teens who wrote the lyrics.

The video was written and produced by the following young people:

Song makers

• Jakari Brookins
• Curtis Nelson
• Steven Chambers
• Antonio Williams
• Olajuwon McDuffie

Youth appearing in the video

• Dominique Betts
• Pha Her
• Emerie Fuller
• Cleveland Miller
• Dominique Nelson
• Eboni Nelson
• Jaricka Tolliver
• Samantha Yang
• Sarah Yang
• Ying Yang

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Cookie Cart provides not only work experience, but a youth centered space that fosters life and leadership skills. It's a place that gives teens the confidence, experience and relationships they need to pursue their dreams.

Cookie Cart youth employee comments:

"Working at Cookie Cart has been a phenomenal experience I will remember the rest of my life. I will use what I have learned here in my next job. I found courage, myself, and my voice throughout this 2-year journey. I wish in the future that Cookie Cart can be in every state, maybe even in every city."

~ Breeana, age 17

“I learned that you should always have a good attitude and that you should solve your conflicts peacefully.”

~ DeMarcus, age 15

“Working here definitely changed my life in different ways- it taught me how to value my money, how to work with other teens, and it made me more aware of work.”

~ Amy, age 16