Josie Schwartz ‘16 is Spilling the Greens for a Great Cause
What have you been working on since you graduated from SJK?
I went to Western University and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology and an Honours Business Administration degree. I just started full-time as a management consultant this past summer.
What kept you going during the pandemic?
I wrote and recently self-published a cookbook called Spilling the Greens. The project was not prioritized until COVID-19 came around which gave me more time at home to focus on, and accelerate the process. Like many, during the early days of the pandemic, cooking was something I turned to, to keep me distracted. Cooking and baking have always given me a sense of accomplishment and pride. And, having the opportunity to virtually interact with friends and family who were graciously helping me to test recipes as they were being developed brought about a sense of social connection and nourishment during a time of worry.
How did the idea for a cookbook come about?
This cookbook project was actually conceived in Grade 10 during the IB Personal Project and for this reason, is a project that will forever hold ties to the SJK community and the many teachers and mentors at SJK that helped me conceive the idea in its early stages. The book was merely a prototype at the Grade 10 personal project exposition, but I always had plans to turn into something much greater. It was a project I was always driven to complete, and to turn it into a published hardcover book. I am donating 100% of all profits to KidsAbility Foundation — an organization that I have supported as a volunteer since I was seven years old.
What was it like to create a cookbook?
It took a considerable amount of time to bring it to life, especially given that I completed all of the photography, recipe development, testing, formatting and distribution independently, to save costs and direct as much profit as possible to KidsAbility.
Tell me more about how you’ve been giving back to the community.
My family has been supportive of KidsAbility for a long time, and I have volunteered at the organization for over 15 years. You are likely already familiar with the cause — it is a charity that supports children and youth with special needs in the KW region. I was recently appointed as a founding member of their Emerging Leaders Council – where I act as an advisor to the Foundation board and assist in promoting awareness of KidsAbility in new and innovative ways. I always felt so fortunate to have access to the phenomenal education at SJK, and very blessed to be able-bodied. For this reason, I have always felt a duty to give back, and support the many families in our region who have children who require support to navigate their disabilities and obtain an education that sets them up for the same bright future. I imagine many other families at SJK might feel connected to the cause for similar reasons.
How can we find out more about your cookbook?
You can learn more at my website: https://spillingthegreens.wixsite.com/spillingthegreens
Back
I went to Western University and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology and an Honours Business Administration degree. I just started full-time as a management consultant this past summer.
What kept you going during the pandemic?
I wrote and recently self-published a cookbook called Spilling the Greens. The project was not prioritized until COVID-19 came around which gave me more time at home to focus on, and accelerate the process. Like many, during the early days of the pandemic, cooking was something I turned to, to keep me distracted. Cooking and baking have always given me a sense of accomplishment and pride. And, having the opportunity to virtually interact with friends and family who were graciously helping me to test recipes as they were being developed brought about a sense of social connection and nourishment during a time of worry.
How did the idea for a cookbook come about?
This cookbook project was actually conceived in Grade 10 during the IB Personal Project and for this reason, is a project that will forever hold ties to the SJK community and the many teachers and mentors at SJK that helped me conceive the idea in its early stages. The book was merely a prototype at the Grade 10 personal project exposition, but I always had plans to turn into something much greater. It was a project I was always driven to complete, and to turn it into a published hardcover book. I am donating 100% of all profits to KidsAbility Foundation — an organization that I have supported as a volunteer since I was seven years old.
What was it like to create a cookbook?
It took a considerable amount of time to bring it to life, especially given that I completed all of the photography, recipe development, testing, formatting and distribution independently, to save costs and direct as much profit as possible to KidsAbility.
Tell me more about how you’ve been giving back to the community.
My family has been supportive of KidsAbility for a long time, and I have volunteered at the organization for over 15 years. You are likely already familiar with the cause — it is a charity that supports children and youth with special needs in the KW region. I was recently appointed as a founding member of their Emerging Leaders Council – where I act as an advisor to the Foundation board and assist in promoting awareness of KidsAbility in new and innovative ways. I always felt so fortunate to have access to the phenomenal education at SJK, and very blessed to be able-bodied. For this reason, I have always felt a duty to give back, and support the many families in our region who have children who require support to navigate their disabilities and obtain an education that sets them up for the same bright future. I imagine many other families at SJK might feel connected to the cause for similar reasons.
How can we find out more about your cookbook?
You can learn more at my website: https://spillingthegreens.wixsite.com/spillingthegreens
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