About

Ben Averbuch started out working in Boston Public Schools, and then as a 9th grade history teacher at MESA Charter High School in Bushwick. During his time teaching, he noticed a stark lack of home economics (Food Consumer Sciences) programs, as well as a lack of nutritional and health education. 

Originally started as an afterschool club in 2023, he founded The Student Kitchen to address the need for more programming that appealed to hands on learners, and that addressed different cultures and narratives. After drawing over 60 signups, he brought students to a local community center every Friday to learn kitchen skills and make food with the help of friends in the culinary space, other teachers, and student alumni. Since then The Student Kitchen has grown to provide classes for over 150 students and has served over 500 guests, including families, students, and staff. In June 2025 he received the Idealist Action Incubator and Communitas America grant to jumpstart this work.

For the summer 2025 season, Ben also works as the Community Food Educator for Randall's Island Park Alliance, leading cooking workshops and serving samples at a local food pantry.  He has partnered to provide food and culinary programming with local organizations such as Woodbine, Bushwick Ayuda Mutua (BAM), Penington Friends House, Asian Americans for Equity, and others.

 Ben's cooking and educational resume is available upon request.