Project Welcome* celebrated its Past, Present and Future on Tuesday, March 30th hosted by the Restaurant Opportunity Center of NY (ROC NY) at Colors Restaurant** located at 417 Lafayette Street in New York City, with food prepared by the graduating class under the supervision and guidance of Chef Thomas Smyth.

Graduates, alumni, industry professionals and Kingsborough Community College (KCC) staff and faculty gathered to celebrate the completion of the final Project Welcome Food Service Training cohort. 

The Past:

Project Welcome is a training initiative under the Center for Economic and Workforce Development which was launched in February 2007.  The program was made possible by a U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to Kingsborough to train New York City Residents in Food Service and Hospitality. It was the first-of-its-kind to be offered at KCC by the CEWD and the Office of Continuing Education.

The Present:

This final Food Service training cohort provided graduates with various industry recognized food service certifications, hands on culinary experience, books and supplies, internship opportunities, up to twelve college credits applicable to the Department of Tourism and Hospitality and assistance with job placement. 

Many of these graduates will go on to pursue higher education and/or entrepreneurial endeavors.  Both are deliverables which have exceeded the federal grant requirements and programmatic goals. With regards to entry into higher education, approximately 25% of all program graduates who completed training have enrolled in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality. Approximately 10% have started their own businesses which provide additional employment opportunities.  These numbers far exceeded initial expectations.

Opening remarks were given by President Regina Peruggi of Kingsborough who congratulated CEWD for the success of Project Welcome in providing participants with career opportunities and immediate employment. She also commended CEWD for the several additional ongoing pilot programs. 

Ms. Shanna Gumaer, Assistant Commissioner of the Workforce 1 Career Center of the NYC Department of Small Business Services and Mr. Siby Sekou, Co-Director of the Restaurant Opportunity Center of New York also spoke about the wonderful opportunities and significant contributions Project Welcome has provided to the hundreds of students who have participated from all over New York City.   

Former Project Welcome graduates Jenny Aercius, Dorothy Ferrante and Mary Gillespie spoke of their accomplishments and their appreciation for the Project Welcome program.  (Statements attached).

The Future:

The program's level of success has exceeded what was initially predicted, opening the door to potential success for those just beginning their careers as well as those making mid-life career changes and making it possible for additional programs to be funded:

• The CUNY Young Adult Program (CYAP): An initiative which serves disconnected young adults in collaboration with LaGuardia Community College (lead organization), and New York City College of Technology (City Tech). Each college offers a customized skills training program that has proven successful in training and placing participants in employment. KCC provides Food Service Operations training and Hospitality Operations and Management training that emphasize hands-on skills and industry certifications.
• Kitchen Enterprise program: The culinary version of the traditional business incubator, KCC's kitchen program offers shared workspace, equipment and services for those interested in culinary careers entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Coney Island Training Program: Funded by a city grant facilitated by Councilman Domenic Recchia, the program provides free food service and hospitality/customer service training in five to eight week cycles. This program is intended to employ Coney Island residents, seasonally at the Luna Park and Circus located in Coney Island, and year round at food service and hospitality establishments throughout NYC.
  
  

*This project was funded in part by a grant awarded under the President's Community Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.

**Colors Restaurant, Restaurant Opportunities Center of NY:

Colors Restaurant is a worker cooperative that enables workers through self-governance and stands for better working conditions, improved wages, racial equality, and career mobility in the restaurant industry. Colors, reflects their diverse workforce through the global cuisine they serve. They are committed to sourcing localized, traceable products from small to mid-sized farms that are invested in the quality and integrity of their products. By proving that restaurants can provide better wages and working conditions while still making a profit, Colors hopes to serve as a model for other restaurants. 

*This project was funded in part by a grant awarded under the President's Community Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.

**Colors Restaurant, Restaurant Opportunities Center of NY:

Colors Restaurant is a worker cooperative that enables workers through self-governance and stands for better working conditions, improved wages, racial equality, and career mobility in the restaurant industry. Colors, reflects their diverse workforce through the global cuisine they serve. They are committed to sourcing localized, traceable products from small to mid-sized farms that are invested in the quality and integrity of their products. By proving that restaurants can provide better wages and working conditions while still making a profit, Colors hopes to serve as a model for other restaurants.