In this lesson, attendees will participate in a combination history lesson and cooking class to learn how food can bring history to life for students. We will discuss the history of the Bracero program in Southern California through the narrative of one young Bracero who ate Sopa de Fideo (noodle soup) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during his time as a farmworker. Presenter Genesis Mena will cook Sopa de Fideo, and while the soup is cooking, will go over best practices for cooking with students. Participants will leave the session with resources for hosting a cooking class at their school, a history lesson, and a recipe.

Genesis Mena - Garden and Nutrition Educator, VC Farm to School and Ocean View School District

Genesis Mena’s work in food, education, and community engagement is rooted in a multidisciplinary background spanning culinary arts, food systems education, media production, sociology, and the arts. With over eight years of experience as a prep and line cook, she developed a strong understanding of food as both nourishment and a powerful tool for connection, culture, and community building.

Genesis served as a Food Education Service Member with FoodCorps in the Rio School District in Oxnard, where she taught gardening, cooking, and nutrition through hands-on learning experiences for students. She later worked as the "Sea 2 School" Education and Outreach Coordinator for Get Hooked Seafood, leading initiatives that connected schools and communities to fresh, sustainable seafood, local fisheries, and nutrition education.

She currently serves as a Garden and Nutrition Educator with Ventura County Farm to School and Ocean View School District, designing and facilitating garden, cooking, and nutrition programs for TK–8 students. Her work integrates environmental stewardship, agriculture, wellness, and culturally responsive food education to foster nutritious habits and stronger connections to local food systems.

Food has always been central to Genesis’s personal and professional journey, serving as a bridge between cultures, practices, histories, and generations. Inspired by family trips to the Yucatán, she developed a love for cooking through eating and appreciating traditional meals, learning that food is not only nourishment, but also a way to preserve cultural traditions, honor history, share stories, and build community. 

This webinar will be recorded and available for viewing on this web page immediately following the presentation.

To turn on live captions during the presentation, please join using the Chrome browser and visit this page for instructions on how to turn them on: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/10538231?hl=en 

Undoing Borders Through Food and Alternative History / Deshaciendo Fronteras A Travez de Comida Y Historia Alternativa