Turn Your Love of Cooking into a Job that Pays with the ChefStart Program

The Social Development Commission (SDC) offers a six-week culinary and job readiness training program called ChefStart. Throughout the year, the ChefStart program prepares adults with skills to move from a cook at home to a chef in a commercial kitchen. Whether you have a dream of going into the food service or hospitality industry, you will be prepared to begin your path to culinary success.

The ChefStart Culinary and Job Readiness Training Program focuses on adults with a culinary dream who have had employment challenges, have been incarcerated, are experiencing poverty, or other circumstances resulting in difficulty finding employment. This training program gives many people the opportunity to get on a new path towards success.

Complete the inquiry form below to get started with ChefStart!

This program is like no other. Students receive daily hands-on culinary practice as they learn basic food safety and culinary skills in an intimate setting from our culinary instructor Chef Calvin Averhart, an experienced executive chef. We couple extensive culinary education with a job readiness curriculum to prepare our students for the workplace. Students learn about financial empowerment, resume writing, interviewing, dress, telephone etiquette, the do’s and don’ts of social media and more.

Our unique program provides assistance with job placement and provides on-going supportive services to students. Students also get the opportunity to be mentored by restaurant owner and experienced Chef Michael Feker, owner of Il Mito, Zesti, and 2Mesa.