Through a grant from the New York State Department of Labor under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, the hands-on, 5-week program aims to introduce job opportunities to asylum seekers in New York City.
Careers through Culinary Arts Programs (C-CAP), the workforce development nonprofit that teaches culinary, life and job skills to more than 22,000 middle-and-high school under-resourced students in 186 schools, as well as the formerly incarcerated, announced late last month a new pilot program funded by Governor Kathy Hochul to train asylum seekers with work permits and place them into jobs.
Headquartered at C-CAP partner Francis Lewis High School in Queens—the city’s second largest high school, with a state-of-the-art kitchen and hydroponic rooftop garden—this series of five-week hands-on training classes will help students discover the fundamentals of the foodservice industry to become a culinary professional, including cooking principles and techniques for commercial food preparation, baking, and foodservice management.
All students will graduate with a New York City Food Handler’s License certification. C-CAP will then place these students into entry-level cook positions in stellar restaurants and hotels around New York City.
“A certification from C-CAP’s Career Pathways Program gives our newest workers in New York State a lifeline,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon.
“Connecting job seekers with tools for professional success is a fundamental part of what the Department of Labor does. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul for directing significant resources that not only help asylum seekers, but that eventually position asylum seekers to help themselves.”
“By creating this program, we are facilitating that path towards upward mobility,” added C-CAP Co-Chair, Marcus Samuelsson.
“C-CAP has had decades of success training the next generation of food leaders, so we’re thrilled, thanks to a grant funded by The New York State Department of Labor to be able to provide those skills and opportunities to an initial 50 asylum seekers who have already obtained work permits,” says C-CAP’s Executive Director Tanya Steel.
“Our plan is to then scale up the program through a multi-sector consortium of private and public support.”
“With support from C-CAP and the hospitality industry, New York is finally moving beyond the ‘migrant crisis’ to take advantage of the energy and talent of newcomers who, with work permits, are able to contribute to our communities and fill workforce needs. We appreciate Governor Hochul’s leadership in this effort,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City.
“New York City restaurants want to provide asylum seekers with work opportunities and hire them to fill the open jobs they have,” says Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance.
“That’s why, we commend Governor Hochul for funding this pilot program with C-CAP, an incredible organization that has the expertise and experience to teach the culinary and jobs skills needed to set asylum seekers up for success in New York’s restaurant industry.”
Students represent diverse populations and fall across the education spectrum, coming from countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela. Classes will be taught primarily in Spanish.
The inaugural pathway program for asylum seekers is expected to conclude in March.
For more information about Careers through Culinary Arts Program and the Pathways Program for Asylum Seekers visit Careers through Culinary Arts Program website.
Long co-chaired by chef Marcus Samuelsson, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) is an education and workforce development nonprofit that provides underserved teens a pathway to success through college scholarships and jobs in the food sector.
Annually, C-CAP provides culinary, job and life skills to over 22,000 middle-and-high school students across the United States in more than 186 schools: Arizona, Baltimore, Camden, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Newark, Southern Maryland, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. It also works with the formerly incarcerated, and now with asylum seekers.
This 34-year-old nonprofit founded by Richard Grausman strives to help further food and social justice, as well as equity and inclusion by providing tools for job success.
Starting in middle schools, we provide culinary-and-wellness curriculum, and in high schools also provide an integrated approach to employment in the food sector via internships/apprenticeships, job shadows, mentorship, work opportunities, college and career advising, and higher-education scholarships, along with product and food donations.
The success of our alumni—from winery CEOs to chef-owner restaurateurs—is proof of our methodology. To date, we have worked with 370,000 students and awarded $71 million in scholarships. C-CAP has transformed thousands of lives in a meaningful way. The urgency to help these diverse communities has never been more critical.
