Submitted by the Jacques Pépin Foundation
The Jacques Pépin Foundation announced that the YWCA Evanston/North Shore received a Winter 2022 Grant, awarded at the end of December. One of 10 recipients this round, YWCA Evanston/North Shore will use their grant to fund its YW Culinary Program, a free, 12-week, paid job-training program designed to prepare students for success in the food-service industry. The program is available to traditionally underrepresented or vulnerable populations, such as women of color, survivors of domestic violence and low-wage workers. In addition to the $10,000 grant, the community kitchen will also receive JPF-branded aprons for their students and a group membership to the Foundation.
Founded in 2016, the Jacques Pépin Foundation became a grant-making organization in 2019. In the last four years the Foundation has given over $1 million to more than 50 different non-profit, community-based culinary arts training programs that offer life skills and culinary training to individuals with barriers to employment. The foundation mission and vision are rooted firmly in the belief that culinary skills training leads to increased self-confidence, better health, and employment and career opportunities.
“The JPF’s mission of supporting programs that create opportunities through culinary training is realized in part by giving grants to these important, impressive, local organizations,” says Rollie Wesen, executive director of the foundation. “YWCA Evanston/North Shore’s YW Culinary Students develop culinary and food service skills, earn a paid stipend while learning, learn and gain industry knowledge from guest chefs, and receive job placement and retention assistance through the program. We’re proud to support their efforts.”
“YWCA Evanston/North Shore is extremely grateful to receive this funding from the Jacques Pépin Foundation for our YW Culinary program,” says Karen Singer, President and chief executive of YWCA Evanston/North Shore. “It ensures that we can continue to support our students by removing barriers that may have prevented them from reaching their goals, while also diversifying the culinary industry where women of color are traditionally underrepresented.”
In addition to YWCA Evanson/North Shore, Winter 2022 JPF Grants were awarded to HopeWorks Social Enterprises in Everett, Wash.; Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco; Food Jobs Work Foundation in Little Rock, Ark.; Common Table Louisville in Kentucky; Pathlight Home in Orlando, Fla.; Paul’s Place, Inc. Groundwork Kitchen in Baltimore; Hot Bread Kitchen in New York City; Community Servings in Jamaica Plain, Mass.; and Project Renewal in New York City.
Community-based culinary arts training programs are invited to apply to the Jacques Pépin Foundation Grant Program for Community-Based Culinary Arts Training Programs throughout the year and are awarded twice: one in summer and one in winter. Applications for the 2023 Grant Programs open in February.
Perhaps Evanston could match this grant from ARPA funds!