Workforce Development
Our Culinary Program teaches more than just how to cook.
Culinary Arts Program
Food Saves Lives
Restorative Partners is partnering with Cuesta College in implementing a 16-week, fast-track culinary training program in which students earn a Culinary Arts Foundation Certificate of Specialization. Future cohorts will have lab portions facilitated onsite at Restorative Partners upcoming social enterprise café, The Bridge Café. Each year, we will host three cohorts of trainees, totaling 12 participants each year. The courses include online lecture and hands-on lab and work experience, both hosted at The Bridge Café.
The Culinary Certificate of Specialization provides job skills in a career technical educational program. It is designed to integrate academic and lab training with real life experience in the field of Culinary Arts. Selected courses within the curriculum meet requirements for entry level employment, ServSafe certification, transferability to CSU programs, and also provide students with lifelong learning knowledge as well as consumer and industry-applicable skills. Students are provided support through our System Navigators and Case Manager.
Our interest in providing culinary training work development kicked off in 2019 with the Culinary Training & Internship Program (CTIP) launched in partnership with the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County and Cuesta College. Students participated in 7.5 units of culinary courses, life skills and restorative justice groups, case management services, and job placement assistance.