On the city’s west side, Rockford girls have been learning cooking and home economic skills through a new youth program. Launched by founder and director Janene Stephenson, The J-Tech group are girls ranging in grades 5th through high school and they start with simple meals like tacos and then eventually move on to meals like baked chicken and even Thanksgiving dinners.

As the program extends, Stephenson said she wants to make more complex meals and bring in local chefs. She also said she plans to use this as a platform in the local Black business community.

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