Hot Bread Kitchen, a nonprofit that has provided services and access to food industry jobs for women and gender-expansive people for 15 years, has launched its five-week culinary training program for new immigrants.
The Culinary Career Pathways for New New Yorkers program aims to provide culinary training and access to career opportunities in the food industry. Program members receive a MetroCard and a weekly stipend for their participation. Instructors in the culinary arts program include bilingual instructors and past Hot Bread Kitchen participants, such as Kandy Williams, who has had a successful career in the food industry.
“There are enormous opportunities in the food industry,” said Leslie Abbey, CEO of Hot Bread Kitchen. “In New York City there is a talent shortage in the food industry and there are many, many jobs.”
Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 40,000 jobs were available for immigrantsThe main industry being food services.
“The members who come to our program are passionate about food. … Others just love cooking and want to make a career out of it, and… we are the only organization that runs this type of program specifically for immigrants and asylum seekers in this industry.”
About 180,000 immigrants have arrived in New York City since April 2022. with around 65,000 still in the city’s care. With a wealth of opportunities in the food industry, Hot Bread Kitchen has partnered with organizations such as New Women New Yorkers, Jackson Heights Immigrant Center, Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid, and Mixteca Organization to offer a culinary arts workforce development program so that immigrants can obtain an economically stable future.
According to Abbey, some of the challenges participants face are food insecurity, housing and child care. To combat this, in addition to the job training program, the organization provides other services, such as child care, housing assistance, financial counseling, English language instruction, and support in accessing public benefits. Hot Bread Kitchen also allows participants to cook their own food before going home.
“Cooking has been my life since I was little,” said Sandra, who did not provide her last name and is a participant in Hot Bread Kitchen’s Culinary Career Pathways for New New Yorkers program.
“Cooking is passion, innovation. I always love making different dishes. This cuisine is not ‘MasterChef’ in Colombia, but it gives me a lot of inspiration. … I have learned many things in the kitchen, there is always something new to learn. I have learned a lot about safety and the proper ways to do things in a work environment. “I learned how to work with my co-workers: taking care of them and making sure we don’t have accidents.”
The first cohort had around 250 applicants and now has 16 members. Graduates of the program could land entry-level jobs in the industry and receive a salary of about $18 per hour.
“I feel very proud and privileged to be part of the solution for migrants and asylum seekers here in New York City, and that enthusiasm has grown since we started the program. So everyone is very excited and excited to start group number 2,” Abbey said.
The organization is currently preparing for its second cohort and hopes to have two additional cohorts before the end of the year.
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