Restaurant Ready: Building Futures
Date postedJanuary 18, 2023
The Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF) and Connecticut Restaurant Association are proud to announce partnerships with three community business organizations in Connecticut that are helping find new restaurant workers and put them on a career path to success. Restaurant Ready is a national program dedicated to helping people acquire the basic job and life skills necessary to pursue jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and jumpstart a pathway to independence.
Forge City Works in Hartford has a long and rich history supporting Hartford residents with barriers to employment learn
back-of-house kitchen skills and customer service skills. They became participants in the Restaurant Ready program offered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) in 2022.
"When I learned about the Restaurant Ready program and the skills training it can offer community business organizations, I immediately thought of Forge City Works," says Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, CHEF Foundation Director. "In 2023, we look forward to providing connections to restaurant employment and further training for their graduates."
“The Restaurant Ready Curriculum has been a great tool in conjunction with our hands-on job training program at Forge City Works," says Carla Domingo, Workforce Development Specialist at Forge City Works. "It is relevant and easy to teach with the guided lesson plans. Our trainees have enjoyed the group activities and have been able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the workplace. We look forward to using the virtual testing once it's up and running.”
back-of-house kitchen skills and customer service skills. They became participants in the Restaurant Ready program offered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) in 2022.
"When I learned about the Restaurant Ready program and the skills training it can offer community business organizations, I immediately thought of Forge City Works," says Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, CHEF Foundation Director. "In 2023, we look forward to providing connections to restaurant employment and further training for their graduates."
“The Restaurant Ready Curriculum has been a great tool in conjunction with our hands-on job training program at Forge City Works," says Carla Domingo, Workforce Development Specialist at Forge City Works. "It is relevant and easy to teach with the guided lesson plans. Our trainees have enjoyed the group activities and have been able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the workplace. We look forward to using the virtual testing once it's up and running.”
The Mission of St. Vincent dePaul in Waterbury created their own culinary job training program, the Merriman Culinary Job Training Program, in June 2022. Led by Chef Frank Parafati, he has ensured each student finishes his course with a ServSafe certification and the soft skills that Restaurant Ready provides.
“Our culinary job training program has excelled, in particular, with applying Restaurant Ready program materials provided through funding by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation” said Chef Instructor Frank Parafati of St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury. “We are appreciative of the partnership with the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation that has led to our successes”.
“Our culinary job training program has excelled, in particular, with applying Restaurant Ready program materials provided through funding by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation” said Chef Instructor Frank Parafati of St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury. “We are appreciative of the partnership with the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation that has led to our successes”.
Chef Frank Parafati with students in the Merriman Culinary Job Training Program.
The New Haven Adult Education program adopted the Restaurant Ready program in the spring of 2022. Working with over 25 students per semester, lead instructor Chef Jackie Abelli has brought her students a whole new level of understanding of the restaurant and food service industry through visits to local restaurants and industrial food production facilities. "Field trips help show our students what opportunities are out there for them," says Abelli. "The Restaurant Ready curriculum helps tie it all together as they decide what the right career path is for them."
"The CRA and CHEF are excited to expand Restaurant Ready to more CBO's in 2023, and make career path connections to our member restaurants," says Scott Dolch, President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association and Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation. "Having three community business organizations in all different parts of the state allows us to create partnerships across Connecticut and help create a pipeline of qualified hospitality employees."
Interested in learning how your business can support Restaurant Ready or know a community business organization that may be a good fit as a Restaurant Ready partner? Contact Jennifer, conkling@ctrestaurant.org.
Interested in learning how your business can support Restaurant Ready or know a community business organization that may be a good fit as a Restaurant Ready partner? Contact Jennifer, conkling@ctrestaurant.org.