Welcome to Carlos, Lilyette, Defonte, Evonta, Dina, Salomon, Danielle, Shannon, Josie and Denna!
They’re the new students who will launch into their culinary training next week at Fresh Starts Culinary Academy, guided by a revamped curriculum designed to move them faster toward employment.
Leaders of the training program based at Homeward Bound’s Next Key Center spent the summer crafting the revised course with support from Catalyst Kitchens, a national network of nonprofit culinary training and social enterprise programs.
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Rather than up to 40 students for a four-month class, the training will enroll 10 students for a more intensive five-week program divided into three tiers. As the first group of students moves to Tier 2, a fresh batch of newcomers will toe the starting line.
“We want to increase retention for those students who need to leave to find work before the end of the course,” says Mary Kay Sweeney, executive director of Homeward Bound of Marin.
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“With the re-focus from Catalyst Kitchens, we also believe this course will take full advantage of all the expertise of our staff and offer an even stronger preparation for employment,” she adds. The course runs in partnership with the Marin County Office of Education’s Regional Occupation Program.
Students entering the course will focus on food safety and sanitation, basic knife skills and practical food preparation with the goal of becoming a certified food handler. This certification is a basic required for culinary employment.
Tier 2 students will learn more advanced knife skills and cooking techniques in a production kitchen, while Tier 3 students will spend time in hands-on training at Whistlestop’s Jackson Café in San Rafael.
Team members personally interviewed two dozen applicants this year to gauge their enthusiasm and readiness for the course. Students will also learn about growing vegetables and herbs as well as setting tables and serving.
“We have an awesome class coming up – I’m so excited!” exclaims Carol Menard, a teaching chef who has been with the program since its inception. The new class includes three residents and seven students from the community.
