June 4, 2025
Moya Hall, who has been an Early Head Start Child and Family Educator for two years, was the featured guest speaker at the recent Friends of Marc Dinner, a benefit supporting Vetri Community Partnership. The Friends of Marc Dinner, held this year on May 13 at the Fitler Club, has raised more than $1 million to support Vetri Community Partnership.
Early Head Start, a Health Federation of Philadelphia program, officially partnered with Vetri Community Partnership in September of 2023. Vetri Community Partnership’s mission is to nourish minds, bodies, and communities with nutrition education through cooking.
Vetri Community Partnership’s Mobile Teaching Kitchen has been a presence at Early Head Start socialization and nutrition-focused events at Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse, providing recipes, samples and nutritional education to Early Head Start families and staff. Vetri Community Partnership hosts free community cooking classes attended by Early Head Start staff and their families, as well as program participants.
Hall was asked to speak at the The Friends of Marc Dinner about the benefits of attending Vetri Community Partnership’s Community Cooking Class. The classes are free and open to people of all ages and skill levels. Hall has been attending the classes with her son, Ian, who is 9 years old.
A Q&A with Moya follows:
Why did you begin attending Vetri Community Partnership’s cooking classes?
I started going to cooking classes with my son. Once I started going, his eating habits started changing. Going to classes twice a month has really benefited him.
I was cooking two meals a night at dinnertime because he was a selective eater.
At the Friends of Marc Dinner, I spoke about the classes and how they have had a positive impact on me and my son.
I’ve been going to classes for about a year. Classes are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. every other Tuesday evening.
How did you hear about Vetri Community Partnership and its cooking classes?
From working here (at Early Head Start). They had been coming out to our socialization events.
How have you benefited from taking these classes?
Before, he wasn’t really into vegetables or fruit. He would just want a typical burger. But now, we’re talking about more fruit, vegetables, fish. He has a thing for calamari now! When we’re cooking something new, he says “I want to taste!”
In the classes, you get to cook together. It’s very hands on. Now at home, he’s really into preparing things, like breakfast.
The cooking classes are like our second home. I told Marc Vetri it needs to be the Friends of Marc and Moya Dinner!
What’s it like being a professional educator, while also being a student in cooking class?
It can be challenging. Sometimes I bring out that educational Mom piece and use that at home when cooking with my son! I have the educational piece, but also the Mom point of view.
What do you appreciate most about your role as an Early Childhood Educator?
The most rewarding things are the growth and progress that I have made as an educator, and the progress that the families have made. Making them feel comfortable with me has been so rewarding. Familiarity brings more assurance on their part.
How would you describe your time working as part of the Health Federation of Philadelphia?
Being with HFP has opened so many doors and possibilities for me. Networking, education, expanding my knowledge. Staff development. This field and being with the Health Federation has allowed me to explore many other possibilities. Being here has been a really great experience.
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About the Health Federation of Philadelphia
The Health Federation of Philadelphia is a public health nonprofit that promotes health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services.
The Health Federation of Philadelphia serves as a keystone supporting a network of Community Health Centers as well as the broader base of public and private-sector organizations that deliver healthcare, public health and human services to vulnerable populations.