Elevate your health and delight your taste buds in our Cooking for Wellness series! Over four hands-on classes, you’ll explore nutritious, flavorful meals designed to support your wellbeing. From vibrant mains and fresh salads to satisfying snacks and wholesome desserts. Each session combines practical skills with mindful, delicious cooking. Learn, create, and savor meals that nourish both body and soul. Some accommodations can be made for dietary restrictions. The $60 class fee covers all food and other supplies. Location: 620 Greenup St, 41011.

Moderator (CHANGE): Mona Bronson-Fuqua (sessions 1, 2, 4) and JoEllen Hothem (session 3)

Mona Bronson-Fuqua: Culinarian, chef, and educator, she has been an entrepreneur in the culinary and media fields since the early 2000’s. Je Ne Sais Fuqua LLC is Mona’s passion and purpose. While the idea of food as more than nourishment is not new, elevating marginalized cultural cuisine, healthy cooking, and historical knowledge of sustainable food practices is her niche. She brings years of teaching for programs at Baker Hunt, Cooking for the Family, UC's Communiversity, La Soupe education outreach programs, the Cooking School at Jungle Jim’s and Cancer Support Community of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, and she consults with CareSource of Ohio.

Chef JoEllen Hothem is a self-taught chef who loves to explore different cuisines and the many ways food and community enhance health and wellbeing. She combines her love of food with her public speaking and instructional training to help people learn the principles of taste and foundational cooking skills, so they can confidently prepare tasty and healthful meals for themselves, family and friends. JoEllen feels strongly that food is medicine and loves to help people find tasty and healthful ways to cook and eat. She developed a dementia caregiver cooking class that helps caregivers work together in the kitchen with someone diagnosed with dementia preparing healthy dishes and learning skills that help partners transition through role changes and continue to enjoy time together.

The original moderator is no longer able to do this class. Sorry!
Ilene Ross, with over 40 years of experience as a culinary instructor, has been a chef, caterer, and senior dining writer for CityBeat. Trained in southern Italy and specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, she brings a warm, approachable style to teaching—blending traditional techniques with real-world cooking tips. These days, Ilene focuses on what she loves most: teaching cooking confidence and creativity.