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Neighbor News

Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services Continues its Leadership in Healthy Lifestyle Program Innovation

4 Star Charity Navigator Rated Agency Hires Food Network Star, Author and Teacher, Chef Darrell "Das" Smith as Director of Food Services

Los Angeles, CA (October 3, 2016)-Chef Darrell “Das” Smith’s boundless commitment to teaching life-changing Culinary Arts education programs has been nationally recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Sean “Puffy” Combs, The Food Network, and the publisher of his most recent book, “Now Look Who’s Cooking”.

Effective immediately, Chef Das will bring his passion for healthy cooking to the students and residents of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services as he assumes his new role as Director of Food Services.

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His goal is to inspire meaningful and positive change in the way that children of all circumstance and ability access, consume, prepare and understand food, thereby enabling them to build healthier lifestyles. Doing so in a fun, engaging and interactive way is at the core of Chef Das’s celebrated life-affirming philosophy that great cooking is a work of art and heart.

His vision is to utilize a farm to table approach, introducing fresh produce to our children. Having Chef Das on board will also provide a wealth of knowledge within our vocational training, serving to open the door to opportunities within the food service industry.

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Born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Chef Das was deeply inspired by his mother’s love for cooking, entertaining, and the joyful community it created. Accordingly, he trained in the Culinary Arts at Atlanta Technical College where he honed his skills in the preparation of award winning American Cuisine. Shortly after graduation, he accepted a position in Detroit, Michigan where he taught underserved youth how best to find motivation and personal expression using food as a creative and therapeutic outlet. Chef Das ventured to Los Angeles to design and lead an innovative Culinary Arts program at Beverly Hills High School. He headlined a national college tour with such luminaries as Tatyana Ali, and Malik Yoba compelled to make a sustainable positive impact on the lives of future generations of young people. Most recently, Chef Das was the former personal chef, caterer and healthy lifestyle consultant to entrepreneur, Sean “Puffy” Combs.

Of this exceptional opportunity to be Vista’s Director of Food Services, Chef Das reflects, “It’s my great pleasure and privilege to continue nourishing minds, bodies and spirits alongside Vista’s extraordinary staff. This new program, designed for Vista’s kids, can change lives…one meal and mindful choice at a time.”

Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services has cared for Los Angeles’ most vulnerable children for over 100 years, providing a range of exceptional programs in education, mental health, autism, adoption, residential care, prevention and early intervention. Vista’s programs are for children with social, emotional and behavioral challenges, wrapping love and support around the entire family and is today is Los Angeles’ most prominent resource for children of the Autism Spectrum. Vista Del Mar is a national role model in providing these specialized services and therapeutic treatment for children and is a Four Star Charity Navigator rated organization.

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