Food Education
for all.
Food is missing from the American classroom. Pilot Light is changing that.
Our Mission
Pilot Light’s mission is to support students as they learn and advocate for informed choices by bridging the lessons they learn in their classrooms to the foods on their lunch trays, at home, and in their communities.
Our Vision
Pilot Light’s vision is to create a world of knowledgeable and engaged changemakers for a better food system future for us all.
Our Values
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Connection
We encourage curiosity and discovery about the connections between food, wellness, and community.
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Collaboration
We believe in the creative power of collaboration grounded in empathy, respect, and humility.
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Lifelong Learning
We are lifelong learners who reflect, listen, and evolve so that our work remains relevant, responsive, and evidence-based.
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Agency
We instill a sense of agency in students and educators to share the knowledge and skills they gain through Pilot Light in order to make a meaningful difference in the food system.
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Relevance
We ignite excitement for learning through Food Education that is relevant and responsive to students’ lives, interests, and cultures.
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Access
We believe that food access is incomplete without Food Education, and that students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities deserve our resources.
Our Story
In 2010, renowned Chicago chefs Paul Kahan, Jason Hammel, Matthias Merges, and Justin Large visited a local classroom and identified a key missing ingredient: food. Inspired by Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move! to Schools Campaign, they set out on a mission to change the landscape of American education through partnership with teachers. Since then, Pilot Light has grown to reach thousands of students across the country—and we’re just getting started.
A better future is possible through Food Education.