Second Annual Hospitality Pathways Conference
celebrates multi-faceted approach to engaging and advancing people
from all backgrounds toward industry careers.
WASHINGTON, July 30,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The critical role of local
communities in connecting historically marginalized populations
with restaurant opportunities was a central theme of last week's
second annual Hospitality Pathways Conference, hosted by the
National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation (NRAEF). Convening nearly 150 workforce development
partners across state restaurant associations, community-based
organizations, and national and local government agencies, the
event highlighted collaborative work happening across 30 states to
equip people with first-job skills, industry-specific competencies,
and long-term careers.
Over the course of two days, stakeholders joined workshops and
simulations designed to strengthen their community engagement,
elevate their outreach, and celebrate their uniquely local work to
engage people through the NRAEF's Restaurant Ready and
Hospitality Opportunities for People (Re)Entering Society
(HOPES) workforce development programs. Special guests
included Chef Ashish Alfred of
Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen, as well as
Derrick Green, Chef/CEO of Waffles
and Whatnot, who emphasized the value that individuals from all
backgrounds bring to the restaurant landscape.
Both HOPES and Restaurant Ready are based on a national set of
industry-recognized competency areas. The NRAEF partners with 30
state restaurant associations and more than 80 community-based
organizations, who teach, train, and equip individuals from
non-traditional education backgrounds to start restaurant and
hospitality jobs and achieve career independence.
"At the San Antonio Food Bank, we're in the business of helping
people. We have a grant through the NRAEF and work with people who
were just released from prison. To be able to see people succeed
with either an educational program or to find employment that
they're looking for is very gratifying," said Andrew Cuellar, program director at the the San
Antonio Food Bank, a HOPES program partner.
In his work at the San Antonio Food Bank, Cuellar said he takes
the time to know the HOPES participants first-hand, frequently
taking them himself to secure an ID so that they can apply for a
job or to secure clothing for an interview. Simultaneously, Cuellar
cultivates a collection of local restaurant and hospitality
employers where HOPES participants gain on-the-job experience after
job-readiness training through the NRAEF's Restaurant Ready
curriculum.
"Both Restaurant Ready and HOPES are only as effective as the
state and local partners who implement them, bringing these
programs to life in ways that are meaningful to the people and
businesses in their communities," said NRAEF president Rob Gifford. "Together, we're making sure that
our industry continues to grow as a place with opportunity for
anyone who wants to join."
The NRAEF's purpose-driven mission is to empower people from all
backgrounds to build a future through the strength and diversity of
the restaurant industry. Learn more about the NRAEF's programmatic
impact, including the HOPES and Restaurant Ready programs, in its
latest Impact Report.
The 2024 Hospitality Pathways Conference was made possible by
the following partners: Constellation Brands, Darden Foundation,
Hilton Foundation, Kessler Foundation, Marriott Foundation, PepsiCo
Foundation, Sodexo, Yum! Brands Foundation, Aztec, Charley's Kids
Foundation, and FAT Brands Foundation.
About the National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation (NRAEF): As the supporting philanthropic foundation
of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF's charitable
mission includes enhancing the industry's training and education,
career development, and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and
its programs work to Attract, Empower, and Advance today's and
tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs
include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education
program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community based
organizations to provide people with skills training and job
opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women
transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers;
Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing
restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant
& Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited
apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service
professionals. For more information on the NRAEF,
visit ChooseRestaurants.org.
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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation