What is your mission statement?
C.H.E.F. aims to create opportunities by providing culinary training, restaurant education, mentorship, and leadership development for individuals experiencing addiction, homelessness, or involvement in the justice system.
About C.H.E.F.
We are more than a culinary training program; we are about fostering a positive and healthy lifestyle based around recovery. The goal is to teach new and experienced people the culinary skills, behaviors, and techniques to gain a full-time paid position within the community.
Who will you serve?
Our primary base of students will come from people that are living in halfway houses, sober living homes, housing insecure, recently released from prison/jail, and those in need of a positive change and a helping hand up.
What does the program offer?
We offer a one week “Simply Certs” for those with restaurant experience and experienced a bump in life that just need a refresh and reboot. We also offer a 4-week training program that includes basic culinary training, in addition to the recovery, and healthy living classes. CHEF is also a registered apprenticeship program that offers line cook, kitchen manager, and restaurant manager apprenticeships for students wanting to make it into more of a career choice. Other relevant trainings will include recovery meetings, case management, resume writing, interview skills, shopping on a budget for healthy food, healthy living, and employment assistance. The students will receive nationally recognized certificates of accomplishment to showcase in their interviews with employers.
Why we are different?
There are many fine choices to make that offer similar training. We feel we are different as we focus on the person as a whole and emphasize the healthy living and recovery aspect. We will not only teach restaurant and culinary skills, but will emphasize and support healthy positive living
Do you have to be an addict to attend?
No. Our recovery meetings are focused around substance abuse and mental health. We support all avenues of recovery and support the individual in their choices
Who or what services will my money go towards?
Without the assistance of the community and donors, this dream would not be possible. The generous donation will go towards helping CHEF to continue to grow and expand its training programs, and create a training center that will give the students the best opportunity to be successful in obtaining and maintaining full time employment in the hospitality industry, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
What are your organization's goals this year?
Our goal for the year is to continue to train students and assist them with employment and healthy lifestyles. While this is going on, we will continue to build relationships within the community to gain partnerships so our students may be more successful. We are also seeking opportunities to grow and work towards a student run restaurant.