Applications for the 2025 Junior Chef Academy (JCA) are now open.
JCA, which helps students in Indianapolis master the art of cooking and end the cycle of food insecurity, is a free 17-week program for students ages 12 to 15. The applications are open through February, with open tryouts scheduled 4 p.m. for March 3 at Paramount Englewood, 3029 E. Washington St.
The program begins with a 10-week basic skills session in March, followed by a four-week summer session in June and a three-week fall session in September.
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Additionally, the basic culinary and operational skills learned through the JCA program translate to job skills, acting as “a stepping stone to programs like Culinary Job Training at Second Helpings or a secondary education in a culinary program,” according to a press release.
For more information, visit jcaindy.com or youtube.com/watch?v=5oGyP5ZnKUA.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
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