Organization: Farm Fresh Rhode Island, Harvest Kitchen
Title: Assistant Director & Chef Educator
Nominated by: Laura Deascentis, Program Support, & Danielle Demers, Cafe Coordinator
Chef Bernard has been with Harvest Kitchen for nearly 6 years. We run a program for students involved with the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). A culinary job training program with youth ages 16-19, teaching the necessary skills for entering the workplace. Many of the kids come from group homes and or have unstable living situations and have been in trouble with the law. Although we all work with the kids, Chef Bernard is the frontline educator and mentor. He becomes a father figure to many of the youth. It is a blessing to see these kids graduate from the Harvest Kitchen program and go on to get a job times through internships set up by Chef Bernard.
The Harvest Kitchen program has two classes a day, Monday through Thursday. Some kids attend the morning class, and others attend the afternoon class, for a total of 8-10 youth. Everyday varies with trainees, teaching them kitchen skills, teaching Serve Safe, and having teachers come in to teach skills like Financial Literacy. Yesterday he taught the trainees how to make pie crusts to make pies for our upcoming Thanksgiving meal with the kids. For some, this may be their only Thanksgiving. Chef Bernard Takes them on field trips and mentors them everyday. He is their father, uncle, brother and friend.
Chef Bernard is real with the kids, he doesn’t candy coat anything and is very straightforward and honest. The kids love that about him and trust him with their life stories. It is not unusual to see Chef Bernard in the back room talking in private with one of the kids going through turmoil. They trust him. It is a beautiful transformation seeing the growth they show throughout the program. He also confronts them when necessary.
This nominee has helped numerous trainees get jobs in the community through internships. This nominee has been a friend and mentor this year to over 40 graduates.
Chef Bernard came back from a Catalyst Kitchen training so excited about the people he met and what he learned, he has implemented many techniques he learned.
SPECIAL ALERT!
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