In very happy news, our very own Tara Currie was recently awarded the Pam McConnell Award for Young Women in Leadership for her work here at Unity Kitchen. She was presented with this award on Friday May 12th at 2pm by the current deputy Mayor and a new Pam McConnell Statue was unveiled as well. The award ceremony took place at the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre also known as the Regent Park Community Centre
Tara Currie
Tara is one of the founders and Head Chef of Unity Kitchen. Since July 2020, and under Tara’s guidance, Unity Kitchen has been serving 130 meals a day to homeless and food-insecure people in the heart of downtown Toronto. As a young black woman, Tara can identify with marginalized people that access the program. Through her work, she strives to extend equal care and encouragement to all people she meets. Tara believes in the goodness of people and is conscious of trying to create an environment where each person can feel seen and respected for who they are no matter the troubles they may have endured.
From the outset, Tara was determined that Unity Kitchen should provide vulnerable people with a sense of dignity and belonging; a place where they would feel seen and validated while enjoying tasty, healthy, and exciting food. Currently, the people accessing the Unity Kitchen Meal program create a mutually supportive community hub that helps everyone fulfill their basic needs.
Tara creates an upbeat creative environment that the community enjoys; she keeps the music playing and she keeps the people moving. For Tara, the hungry homeless, and the food insecure are her Guests. She actively engages with Unity’s Guests and with the kitchen volunteers with friendship, care, laughter, and advice. Tara has seen how homeless people are ignored and neglected by society and does her part to help everyone feel seen and heard. Tara believes in social justice for all. Everyone is welcome at Unity Kitchen.
In her free time, Tara enjoys gardening, caring for her houseplants, cultivating her herbs, biking, and singing in a choir with her grandmother. Just like in the kitchen, she always has her music playing when she cooks, which she explains “gives life a soundtrack”.
