Kindred Voices: Idara and Natalie
- kindredbakerybk
- Dec 8, 2025
- 3 min read
“Everyone there [at Kindred] treated me like a person and not like an autistic person, but like a person with autism and I thought that was really nice because I had yet to have that experience"- Idara
“My daughter’s name is Idara. She’s seventeen, loves to bake, and has lived in Brooklyn her whole life. We found Kindred about a year ago, completely by luck. I was on LinkedIn, saw a post, and messaged Nigel. When we spoke, I told him about Idara, how she’s autistic, and that she sometimes needs extra prompts. I didn’t know if the program would be a good fit. He just said, ‘She’ll be fine here.’ That moment was such a relief.
We’ve spent years searching for spaces that understand both her needs and her passions. Kindred was different from day one. It wasn’t just a program; it felt like a family. They just said, ‘Go relax, we’ve got her.’ And they meant it.
We’ve spent years searching for spaces that understand both her needs and her passions. Kindred was different from day one. It wasn’t just a program; it felt like a family. They just said, ‘Go relax, we’ve got her.’ And they meant it.
Since then, Idara has blossomed. She’s gone from hiding under tables in math class to running a cash register. She’s socializing more, working part-time, and baking from scratch. She even taught her grandmother how to make rolls she learned at Kindred—my mom didn’t own an offset spatula until Idara came along.”
Idara said: “When I started, I felt safe asking for help. They’d show me step by step, but they let me try things myself. That was different. In other places, people just do it for you. Here, they gave me the chance to learn. Everyone there [at Kindred] treated me like a person and not like an autistic person, but like a person with autism and I thought that was really nice because I had yet to have that experience"
She remembers learning to use the cash register: “At first I didn’t get it. They walked me through it, and I got it after a few tries. That gave me the confidence to work a real job. It helped me talk to customers, handle money, and not feel anxious asking for help. Now I feel like I can do it anywhere.”
Kindred has helped Idara explore her passion for baking “Baking used to just be a hobby, now it feels like a passion. I could even be a professional baker one day.”
Natalie sums it up: “Nigel and Qiana are building something bigger than a class. They make every family feel welcome. When Idara had to take a break, they just said, ‘Bring her back whenever she’s ready.’ That kind of understanding is rare.”
For Natalie and Idara, Kindred has become more than a weekly program—it’s a place where Natalie feels supported, where Idara can grow, and where community feels real. “They treat families like family,” Natalie said. “They’ve given us resources, support, and a safe space where my daughter belongs.”
For Natalie and Idara, Kindred has become more than a weekly program—it’s a place where Natalie feels supported, where Idara can grow, and where community feels real. “They treat families like family,” Natalie said. “They’ve given us resources, support, and a safe space where my daughter belongs.”
Kindred Voices is a series of profiles of Kindred Bakery BK's program participants and their family members.
Donate today to help us open more doors, train more young people, and keep our inclusive kitchen thriving. https://www.kindredbakerybk.org/donate
Thank you to Caroline Emma Moore and Adam Nemcsek for supporting this series.
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