senate dining room

we sat in on one of those ourselves. erin: when most people imagine what happens inside these walls of the manchester police athletic league's michael briggs community center on beech street, they picture this. and this.

but the programs at mpal go beyond physical fitness. they are teaching life skills to any kid who wants to learn >> we are going to take three cups of milk, we're going to put it in here, then we are going to mix one package of jell-o and we are making worms and dirt

erin: on this night, zachary thayer from the new england tap house grill is heading up a group of ambitious young cooks in the center's newly remodeled commercial kitchen. >> so tonight i've got between seven and 10 kids that are going to be working with myself and

mark and john in the kitchen, and another seven to 10 kids who will be upstairs in the dining room, so we will be cooking the food down with them down here, and they'll be serving them up in the dining room. they're serving their friends and peers in the dining rooms.

erin: tonight's menu? ramen with veggies, and some dirt and worms for dessert. >> it's a great program to teach you how to cook when you get hungry and your parents are sleeping or out or something like that. >> the fact that i get to cook.

i really do like cooking, it is very fun. and the people i get to cook with. erin: chef thayer says this exposure can put kids on a career track or just help keep >> skills in the kitchen are important because you got to

not everyone goes out to eat at restaurants every day, so it's nice to be able to cook a meal for yourself with what you have available and ready for you. erin: while the kids downstairs cook, their peers upstairs are preparing for the meal, learning the tricks and tools necessary

for dining out. >> we are teaching them everything from how to set their plate, to how to pass the salt, how to not talk with your mouth full -- things you're going to need in life, whether it's at a school banquet, a prom, a military banquet, things they

it is also -- once they've put that on their resume if they want to apply to be a busser at skills happening. >> it's awesome because usually when you go to the table, you first think just eat, but there erin: the kids also dress for success when learning how to

dine out. >> each child is getting a white oxford and a time, and at the end of the three-week etiquette that home because we think a white shirt and black pants can go anywhere. they can go to school, to a banquet.

you add a tie, you can go to prom, a job interview, it's something that will -- it is sort of multipurpose. erin: this program does come with perks -- a delicious, hot the community center is open five days a week and serves thousands of at risk youth that

live often just within a mile. >> most of the kids frequent this building quite a bit. we have a lot of repeat kids who next. sub kids will come in for the boxing program and from there go to judo, aikido, wrestling. there are some kids who do three

to four different programs, and this is another one we have added on that's incredible. erin: officer levassaur works hard every day to maintain the mission at mpal -- bringing cops and kids togethe >> they get to know me as a person and a human without the

uniform on, and they know i am a cop, too. so i am here while these programs are running. the tap house brings their chefs, and i am here hanging out with the kids, having fun, and they're able to connect with me in a different way.

erin: so if somebody is giving a toast -- officer steve is at the head of the table and he wants what are you doing while he's speaking? >> a lot of people look at us as the law enforcement figure, but we are just human beings, and i youth, they see that.

they see we are normal people, we have kids ourselves, we don't know anything about etiquette and that makes them laugh. we're funny people, they're time all around. erin: after dessert, the reviews >> i feel a lot better. gathering or something, it is

>> my favorite part about doing this is everything. erin: along with the kitchen and etiquette skills being taught tonight, the center is also keeping these kids safe, giving them a place to go and a community that looks out for each other.

>> it's like a family, and being in this environment, you come to realize that the kids really take care of each other. and it's a safe environment, it's welcoming. so if you want to come use the facility and get involved in the programs, yeah, you'll be a

little nervous when you first show up, but i can tell you are amazing. they'll welcome you with open arms. that's the nice part, it is like a big family.

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