Career Passport Graduate Begins New Job

By Crystal Garner, Housing Forward Employment Specialist (AmeriCorps)

T.W. entered the Career Passport program on January 15, 2015. Five weeks later, he completed the program as one of my most energetic and encouraging students. T.W. expressed interest early in the course in becoming a certified chef. Based on his enthusiasm and love for cooking, he and I decided that he would be a good fit for the Inspiration Kitchen’s Food Service internship.  I reached out to the Inspiration Kitchen's director to talk about the Career Passport program and ways in which we could collaborate. As a result of these conversations, we created a soft pilot program that will allow our students, whom have completed the Career Passport program, to enter Inspiration Kitchen’s internship directly, without going through Inspiration Kitchen’s job readiness program. Because of T.W.'s determination and desire to work in food service, it was decided that he would be the first intern in the partnership.

As interns, participants get hands-on experience as they work lunch, brunch and dinner shifts and learn a broad range of skills (basic culinary skills and concepts, reading and converting recipes, nutrition education, following and taking direction, teamwork, sanitation and safety, restaurant service, employment and life skills classes, and the ServSafe city and state foodservice sanitation course). The internship gives students real-life work experience and a reference for future employers. Once placed into employment, graduates are eligible for indefinite supportive services to ensure job retention and promote career advancement.

Eight weeks later, T.W. has represented Housing Forward exceptionally, having completed Inspiration Kitchen’s internship program with flying colors. During his last class at Inspiration Kitchen, T.W. informed me that he was offered two jobs. The first is a position cooking at Inspiration Kitchen, and the other is working with a catering company that uses Inspiration Kitchen’s facilities.

In addition to securing employment, T.W. has also been housed, and is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life. I, along with the rest of the staff at Housing Forward, are very pleased and proud of T.W.’s growth and are equally excited for him as he moves forward.