The Kitchenistas (2021)

What started as a 7-week nutrition program seven years ago in National City (CA) for women seeking healthier diets, has become a Latina-led movement to raise the health, well being, and resilience of the community. National City has one of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in San Diego County and in the state of California, and the program graduates, called "Kitchenistas", are out to change that, one healthy meal at a time. Now after 18 graduating classes, more than 275 Kitchenistas stay the course to overcome systemic barriers in bringing high-quality food solutions into their homes, schools, and city. The feature film follows the 16th Generation through the now, 8-week course and focuses on the personal journeys of several early-generation Kitchenistas from mid-2019 through 2020. Their stories show how women are community builders through healthy food traditions. Not to be underestimated, these women show how a range of small advocacy actions over time lead to big changes.