Kitchen of Purpose uses the power of food to create socioeconomic change in low-income communities, fighting unemployment and promoting healthy living, and empowering our clients to succeed.
The Pacific Northwest Hospitality Training Program is a newly established labor–management partnership between 15 hospitality employers in King County and UNITE HERE! Local 8, the union representing hospitality workers across the Pacific Northwest.
As a Taft-Hartley Fund, the program has two primary objectives: (1) to provide ongoing training for incumbent unionized workers to support career advancement, and (2) to train new workers and help place them in quality union jobs with employer partners.
The Pacific Northwest Hospitality Training Program collaborates closely with UNITE HERE! Local 8 and unionized hospitality employers are to help meet the workforce needs of this growing sector.
The Kahlert Cafe is an inclusive cafe offering job development to individuals with Intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our goal is to build skill and confidence. Employees will receive specialized training in hospitality roles (barista, cashier, kitchen staff), which builds self-confidence, independence, and vocational skills that can lead to future careers. We are committed to challenging stigmas. By placing individuals with disabilities in high-visibility roles, we will “shatter stereotypes” and show the public that people with disabilities are highly capable workers, all while creating community: The Kalhert Cafe will serve as a “radically inclusive” hub where diverse groups of people interact, fostering empathy and a sense of belonging for both the staff and the customers.
The Community Table Project is in the early stages of building a Culinary Arts Education Program. Currently, the organization operates a donation-based café and works closely with local food service establishments to address food insecurity, while creating meaningful opportunities for skill-building and future workforce pathways.
A 10-week job training program that serves individuals who are unemployed or underemployed by providing skill classes, hands-on field training, and real-life experience in the culinary world. Students receive up to 200 hours of training, certifications in their respective field, resume assistance, and job placement support. Upon program completion, graduates are connected to local restaurants and business partners for gainful employment opportunities.
A Portland based 501c3 nonprofit, Feed the Mass was established by Chef Jacobsen Valentine in response to a growing rise of food insecurity in Multnomah County and personal understanding of the challenges individuals and families face in accessing nutritious meals.
The Brownsville Community Culinary Center (BCCC) is a 10,000-square-foot culinary training and social enterprise hub in Brownsville, Brooklyn, dedicated to advancing economic, health, and social equity through the power of food. BCCC offers workforce development programs in culinary arts, pastry, and facilities maintenance, produces medically tailored meals to improve community health outcomes, and provides high-quality catering and event space services. Rooted in the belief that food is a universal language of empowerment, BCCC equips participants with industry-leading skills, real-world experience, and pathways to sustainable employment—while fostering connection, dignity, and opportunity
The Food Services Management Certificate at City Vision University equips students with essential skills for leadership in the food service industry. Upon completion, students will be able to describe and apply key management competencies across four domains: collaboration (HR and relational skills), control (governance, finance, and operations), creation (innovation and entrepreneurship), and competition (business development and funding). The program provides specialized training that prepares students to plan and oversee menu development, food safety and sanitation, kitchen operations, customer service, and financial oversight, building practical people management and business execution skills to thrive in diverse workplace settings.
The LAHH Pasta Lab, a culinary workforce development program, was born out of the experience of eating together as a family around the table. Guido and Nancy, co-founders of LAHH, wanted to make the experience of family something people with barriers and disabilities could have more of. In speaking with Guido’s father in Milan, Italy, Giovanni said, “The best food is the simplest food. Through preparing food for the other, we express our love for them. Being around the table is the most joyful moment and the reason why we prepare food.”
The purpose of the program is to be a career-focused, free training for individuals with disabilities and barriers for employment in the foodservice industry, and working to place each person at an employment partner in a paid position. The training program will follow an industry standard culinary curriculum and will last between 4 weeks and 12 weeks.
Open Heart Cooks is a culinary training program for individuals who not only want a way through poverty but also a way out of it. The program will not only convey the hard skills required to operate in a culinary environment but also the soft skills that will build the necessary resiliency and grit required to thrive beyond the program.