The final piece of our capital campaign came to fruition this month with the official launch of the Stephen Woods Workforce Development Program, WOODS. Named after our visionary former Executive Director, this program aims to prepare aspiring chefs and culinary professionals who are experiencing underemployment and unemployment for careers in the food service industry. In eleven weeks, students will:
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Learn knife skills, cooking basics, and cost-savings in the kitchen
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Receive tutorials from actual professionals in the field
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Plan a full menu
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Become SERV-Safe certified
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Understand nutrition guidelines
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Improve communication and time management skills
Our first cohort of students come primarily from our new neighbor, Covenant House, meaning many of our students are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four.
“Once they got in, it’s like they hit the lottery,” Chef Kira, our Workforce Development chef instructor, explains. Each potential student submitted an application and underwent a baseline assessment so she could better assess where they are and adjust the curriculum to meet them where they are.
“I don’t know of any culinary programs that give students the same access ours do to whole departments like we have here,” she continues. “We have a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist coming in to teach two classes about nutrition and healthy eating, and a shadowing program that gives students the chance to work in Open Hand’s commercial kitchen.”
There’s also already been a flood of support from the community, including local restaurants and chefs like Chef Kevin from The Spotted Trotter. With years of experience as both a chef and entrepreneur, he took time to share as much as he possibly could with our eager class of students, from opening a business to sourcing ingredients to what to look for in a good knife. Afterward, Chef Kevin went step-by-step to show our students how to fabricate—or break down—a chicken.
In the end, Open Hand will work with graduates to find a job or further career development through our established partnerships throughout the community. “We will help find meaningful employment for each of our graduates in the culinary field,” says Matthew Pieper, CEO of Open Hand. “Open Hand is committed to making an impact on economic mobility across metro-Atlanta, but more specifically in our new neighborhood of Grove Park.
Our ultimate goal is for the Stephen Woods Workforce Development Program to do more than prepare individuals for food service careers: we want to open doors to success for countless members of our community. It’s said best by our CEO: “By offering hands-on experience and fostering a deeper understanding of how a professional kitchen operates, we’re not just teaching skills; we’re instilling confidence, cultivating a sense of belonging, and empowering people to build a brighter future.”