JOINING ME IN THE KITCHEN TODAY IS JACKIE CALDERON, THE FOUNDING PROGRAM DIRECTOR TRANSIT ARTS.

JACKIE, WELCOME.

>> IT IS SO GREAT TO BE HERE.

WHAT A GREAT PLACE.

>> WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TRANSIT ARTS.

>> IT IS A YOUTH PROGRAM.

WE WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

IN THE AREAS ARE PERFORMING ARTS, VISUAL ARTS, MEDIA ARTS, YOU NAME IT.

PRIMARILY AGES 12 TO 21, BUT SOMETIMES YOUNGER KIDS COME TO DANCE AND THE YOUNGER KIDS NEVER LEAVE.

SO ACTUALLY OUR CORE TEAM IS MADE UP OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE IN THE PROGRAM.

SO OUR PROJECT MANAGER, PROJECT COORDINATOR.

>> THAT IS WONDERFUL THEY GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND STICK AROUND TO HELP OTHERS.

>> YES.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF MENTORING THAT GOES ON.

OUR KIDS ARE MOSTLY FROM THE CENTRAL CITY, BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE HAD KIDS COME FROM YORK, MANCHESTER, YOU NAME IT.

IF THEY WANT TO COME, THEY ARE MOST WELCOMED.

>> I WANT TO LEARN MORE, AND I ALSO WANT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE TODAY.

>> SO THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY DELICIOUS RECIPE.

NORMALLY MY HUSBAND MAKES IT BECAUSE HE IS THE COOK IN THE FAMILY.

I AM A LITTLE LESS INEPT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

WE WILL BE USING FRESH BLUEBERRIES.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU CAN GET THE FROZEN, THE TINY BLUEBERRIES, SO YOU CAN MAKE THIS ALL YEAR ROUND AND IT IS SO DELICIOUS.

>> SO IT IS LIKE A BLUEBERRY ALMOND CAKE.

>> NOT A GOOD OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALLERGIES OF COURSE.

>> NOT A GREAT OPTION FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A GLUTEN INTOLERANCE.

WONDERFUL.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL US THE INGREDIENTS WE NEED?

>> OKAY.

TWO CUPS +1 TABLESPOON OF ALMOND MEAL.

ONE TABLESPOON OF BAKING POWDER.

A HALF TEASPOON OF BAKING SODA.

A HALF TEASPOON OF FINE SEA SALT.

A QUARTER STEEP PRUNE OF GROUND CINNAMON.

EGGS.

TWO THIRDS CUP TEASPOONS OF MAPLE SYRUP OR HONEY.

OF COURSE, A COUPLE OF EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL.

TWO ORGANIC LEMONS AND A CUP OF BLUEBERRIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I AM EXCITED TO GET STARTED.

WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP?

>> CAN YOU DO THE WETTEST INGREDIENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LET'S DO IT.

OKAY, JACKIE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE OUR DRY INGREDIENTS MIXED AND OUR WET INGREDIENTS MIXED.

WHAT DO WE DO NEXT?

>> I PUT THE MEAL ON THE BLUEBERRIES, AND IF YOU CAN MIX THE WET INGREDIENTS INTO THE DRY THAT WOULD BE GREAT AND THEN WE PUT THIS INTO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

>> SO WE ARE ADDING THE ALMOND MEAL TO THE BLUEBERRIES.

WHAT DOES THAT DO?

>> IT KEEPS THE BLUEBERRIES FROM DROPPING TO THE BOTTOM.WONDERFUL.

>> I WILL PUT THIS IN TO DRY.

I WILL START MIXING THIS UP.

IT IS A PRETTY SIMPLE BATTER.

OKAY.

THIS IS PRETTY WELL MIXED.

THEN THEY GO IN?

>> YES, THEY DO.

>> OKAY.

GREAT.

GET THESE MIXED IN.

OKAY.

WE HAVE GREASED OUR LOAF PAN.

AND THESE JUST NEED TO GO IN ONCE ALL THE BLUEBERRIES ARE MIXED?

>> OKAY.

>> FOR THAT IN.

ALL THE LITTLE LUMPS.

IT IS JUST DOTTED WITH BLUEBERRIES.

>> IT JUST TASTES SO GOOD.

>> I CAN'T WAIT.

GET ALL THAT GOODNESS IN THERE.

OKAY, JACKIE.

WHILE THAT IS IN THE OVEN, TELL ME MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU PROVIDE FOR YOUTH IN COLUMBIA'S THROUGH TRANSIT ARTS.

>> SO YOUNG PEOPLE CAN JUST COME TO THE PROGRAM.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ARTISTS, OR THEY CAN BE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR WORK.

SO IT REALLY EMBRACES ALL DIFFERENT KIDS.

WE HAVE, AGAIN, PERFORMING, VISUAL, MEDIA ARTS, WRITING, POETS, YOU NAME IT.

WE HAVE OPEN MICS EVERY MONTH.

SO SO MANY STORIES ABOUT KIDS GETTING UP ON THE MICROPHONE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

ISN'T THAT THE GREATEST THING?

GETTING UP ON A MIKE?

HAVING THAT SENSE OF CONFIDENCE AND FEELING SAFE.

THEY ARE KIND OF SMALL, BUT IT IS A COMFORTING FEELING.

IT IS LIKE A CUBBY.

YOU MIGHT HAVE HIP-HOP DANCERS OUTSIDE THE YARD UNDER THE TENT .

MAYBE IN THE DOWNSTAIRS PART OF THE SPACE.

AND UPSTAIRS WE HAVE A RECORDING STUDIO AND A FULLY EQUIPPED MUSIC SECTION WITH KEYBOARDS AND GUITARS AND BASS AND YOU NAME IT.

KIDS CAN COME IN AND TRY THINGS THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE NEVER TRIED BEFORE.

THEY NEVER KNEW THEY HAD AN INTEREST IN A CERTAIN FORM.

>> DO THEY NEED TO KNOW GOING AND WHAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN?

>> NO.

NOT AT ALL.

AND WE STRESS THAT.

THEY MIGHT JUST BE AN AUDIENCE MEMBER AT FIRST THEN SLOWLY GET ENTICED TO TRY SOMETHING.

WE ALSO REALLY WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE KIDS GET APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THEY GET TO WORK WITH THE MASTER ARTISANS.

THEY LEARN HOW TO TEACH.

AND THEY LEARN HOW TO EXHIBIT AND PERFORM.

SO WE ARE GIVING THEM SORT OF THE WHOLE PICTURE, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THEY GET INTRODUCED TO SOME OF THE IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SOCIAL CAPITAL.

>> YES.

WHAT A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

WORK AND WE SEE SOME OF THEIR WORK EXHIBITED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY?

>> USUALLY THE COLUMBUS ARTS FESTIVAL EACH YEAR.

WE'RE OUT AT THE PARK AND RECREATION.

WE HAVE BEEN AT THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART EVERY YEAR FOR YOU NAME IT.

WE HAVE BEEN IN EVERY MAJOR THEATER IN THE CITY.

THEN WE PERFORM OUR EXHIBIT WORK.

WITHIN THE LECTURE CENTER.

THE FRANKLIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

THE KING ARTS COMPLEX.

THE NEW OSU HEALTHY COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND THEN PLACES LIKE CCAC'S KILLER COUNTER HE.

YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT IS COMING UP.

>> WONDERFUL.

>> BECKY, WE HAVE THIS GORGEOUS CAKE OUT OF THE OVEN.

SO BEAUTIFUL.

BUT I DO SEE WE HAVE SOME INGREDIENTS LEFT.

>> I DO STEP UP A LITTLE BIT?

>> WHAT IS IN HERE?

>> THE MAPLE SYRUP IN THE LEMON JUICE.

YUM.

THIS IS NICE AND WARM , SO YOU TOP AND IT IS GOING TO SOAK IN REALLY GOOD.

NICE AND BROWN.

>> HEAVENLY.

>> WE CAN'T EAT IT YET.

>> I KNOW.

THERE IS SO MUCH PATIENCE.

WHILE WE ARE PATIENT FOR THIS, WHAT IS ONE MORE THING YOU WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT TRANSIT ARTS?

>> REALLY IMPORTANT, IT IS FREE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ATTEND.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE SURE THAT ALL KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO A REALLY OUTSTANDING, AMAZING PROFESSIONAL ARTISAN.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL EQUIPMENT.

AND JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS LOWER INCOME, IT SHOULD NOT MEAN THAT THEY GET LESSER QUALITY.

SO WE REALLY FOCUS ON QUALITY.

AND KIDS JUST NEED TO REGISTER.

THEY DO NEED TO REGISTER AND GET PARENT PERMISSION BUT THEN THEY CAN COME FREE.

WE LOVE TO ENGAGE PARENTS THROUGH OUR OPEN MICS.

WE HAVE BABIES.

WE HAVE ARCADES.

WE HAVE GRANDPARENTS AND PARENTS, SO IT IS REALLY A HUGE CELEBRATION.

EVERYBODY DANCES.

WE ALSO WORK WITH A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

ONE OF OUR FAVORITES IS GLENN COMMUNITY HOUSE.

SOMETIMES IN THE WINTER, WE GOT TO THEIR SPACE.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, THEY COME TO OUR SPACE.

WE WORK WITH PEOPLE AND KIDS AND LIBRARIES AND HIGH SCHOOL.

SO ALWAYS JUST MAINTAINING THAT CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT KIDS, THEY KNOW WE ARE OUT THERE FOR THEM.

TRANSIT ARTS.

>> NICE CONNECTION.

I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THIS.

WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO COOL COMPLETELY.

>> I BELIEVE.

>> PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.

>> JACKIE, I CANNOT BELIEVE THE MOMENT IS FINALLY HERE.

WE LET IT COOL.

WE HAD THE GLAZE.

ENOUGH TO EAT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S HAVE A LITTLE FUN.

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE TASTE.

UNREAL.

LOVE IT.

THANKS, JACKIE.