Organization: Father Joe’s Villages, San Diego, CA
Title: Culinary Arts Instructor
Nominated by: Oscar Arce, Division Director of Facility Operations
Chef Helen Coyne joined the organization in October 2021 as the Culinary Arts Instructor. Since then, she has stepped up to serve as Acting Executive Chef during leadership transitions and is always willing to jump in to support both staff and clients. Her adaptability and commitment make her an invaluable member of our team.
Chef Helen’s role as Culinary Arts Instructor is central to our Employment and Education Services program. She is deeply committed to the success of each trainee—whether she graduates one student or eight, the impact on our clients’ lives is immeasurable. She adapts to each student’s learning style in the classroom and takes the time to understand their challenges outside of it.
Our Culinary Arts Program (CAP) students are often experiencing homelessness and facing multiple personal barriers, yet Chef Helen creates a sense of belonging and possibility in the kitchen. Through her strong community relationships, she has helped students gain employment at several local restaurants, including Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego.
Her calm leadership, compassion, and dedication to her students’ growth set her apart. Chef Helen doesn’t just teach cooking; she helps rebuild confidence, stability, and purpose for those who need it most.
Since joining in 2021, Chef Helen has transformed the Culinary Arts Program into a more dynamic, inclusive, and impactful experience for our students. She not only strengthens instruction and graduation outcomes, but also creates opportunities for students to gain real-world experience through catering events, business visits, and special workshops. Helen has built partnerships that bring outside chefs into the classroom, such as a sushi chef who taught a hands-on lesson, and she introduced baking into the curriculum, allowing students to expand their skill set and showcase their creations at organizational events for donors and community partners.
Chef Helen is known for her inclusive and compassionate approach to teaching. She adapts her methods for students whose first language isn’t English, ensuring every trainee feels supported and understood. She also fosters a welcoming environment for students of all gender identities, including those who may initially feel hesitant or vulnerable entering the program. Her warmth, respect, and encouragement allow every student to feel safe, valued, and capable of success.
Through her creativity, inclusivity, and leadership, Chef Helen has elevated both the student experience and our program’s community presence—turning the kitchen into a place of opportunity, belonging, and pride.
Chef Helen begins her day preparing the kitchen for training and service, checking inventory, reviewing menus, and setting up for instruction. She leads hands-on culinary lessons, teaching essential techniques and workplace-readiness skills to students who are rebuilding their lives.
Throughout the day, she manages meal production for community programs while providing one-on-one coaching and personal support. Whether developing menus from donated ingredients, coordinating with partners for student placements, or stepping into any kitchen role needed, Helen brings reliability, warmth, and professionalism. Every day, she embodies our mission of using food as a pathway to opportunity and community impact.
Through Catalyst Kitchens, Chef Helen has gained valuable tools and peer connections that enhance her training and program design. She applies Catalyst’s curriculum models to strengthen student readiness and regularly exchanges best practices with other members, helping extend the reach and quality of workforce development across the network.
SPECIAL ALERT!
Thanks to a generous donation from a founding Catalyst Kitchens board member and friend of David Carleton, the Catalyst Kitchen’s Founder’s Fund has an opportunity to raise matching funds up to $5,000 during this year’s Catalyst for Change Award Season!
This is a time-limited opportunity to get your gift matched! Donate now by clicking the button below, before the window closes, to double your generosity and impact!
Here are the 2025 Catalyst for Change. As you read their stories, consider supporting the work of Catalyst Kitchens and our members, enabling the amazing impact of frontline staff like our nominees.
