Community Kitchen Pittsburgh

WE PROVIDE CULINARY-BASED WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. CLIENTS WORK THROUGH A PROVEN CURRICULUM AND APPLY THEIR SKILLS BY PREPARING FOOD FOR SHELTERS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF CHEF TRAINERS.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM WE OPERATE TWO WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTEGRATED INTO SEVERAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS LINES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. WE COVER ABOUT 50% OF OUR BUDGET THROUGH EARNED REVENUE FROM OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES, AND THE REST COMES FROM CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND GOVERMENT WORKFORCE TRAINING CONTRACTS. WE PROVIDE CULINARY TRAINING TO HARDTO-SERVE, CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED ADULTS. OUR CULINARY TRAINING PROGRAM IS A 12-WEEK FULL-TIME PROGRAM THAT PREPARES ADULTS FOR WORK IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY. OUR CLIENTS COME TO US EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCARCERATION, ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS, POVERTY, TRAUMA, LACK OF EDUCATION (INCLUDING A PERCENTAGE WITHOUT A GED OR HS DIPLOMA), AND USUALLY A COMBINATION OF TWO OR MORE OF THESE MAJOR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. WE ALSO PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT TO ADULTS WITH CULINARY EXPERIENCE WHO ARE SERVING THE LAST 3 TO 4 MONTHS OF A JAIL/PRISON SENTENCE AND DEALING WITH REENTRY CHALLENGES. WE PROVIDE TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT TO BRIDGE THEIR RELEASE, ASSIST WITH TRANSITIONAL DIFFICULTIES (OFTEN THIS INCLUDES SECURING APPROVED HOUSING POSTRELEASE), AND HELP THEM OBTAIN PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT. COMMUNITY KITCHEN PITTSBURGH IS A KEY PARTNER IN A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CAREER PATHWAY SYSTEM FOR EX-OFFENDERS AND OTHER CHRONICALLY UN/UNDER-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. WE INTEGRATE BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING MODELS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY BEGINNING WITH RECRUITING AN INDIVIDUAL (CLIENT), IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING THEIR NEEDS, FOLLOWING THEIR SPECIFIC TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, SUPPORTING THEM IN RETENTION AND ASSISTING THEM WITH WAGE PROGRESSION. WE ALSO HAVE AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH DEPARTMENT WORKING IN SCHOOLS AND IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS PROVIDING COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND PROMOTIONAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTING OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND ENGAGING CHEFS AND OTHER INDUSTRY PEOPLE IN OUR MISSION. THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAMMING IS CONSISTENTLY RATED VERY HIGH BY TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS. WE INTERACT WITH AROUND 200 STUDENTS PER MONTH. OUR EDUCATION WORK IS INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH AT-RISK POPULATIONS, SUCH AS WOMEN TRANSITIONING FROM HOMELESSNESS, YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE, TEEN MOTHERS, AND ADJUDICATED YOUTH. IN KEEPING WITH OUR INTEREST IN FACILITATING SELF-RELIANCE, WE PROVIDE WORKSHOPS TO HOMELESS AND ADJUDICATED YOUTH CENTERED AROUND SHOPPING AND COOKING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET TO HELP THESE POPULATIONS TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE.