Thanks to a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Pathway Home Initiative, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation(NRAEF) will reach more than 400 justice involved adults across six states with training, credentialing, and job placement in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Funds will advance the Foundation's overall goal of empowering people from all backgrounds to build careers in the restaurant industry as America's second-largest private sector employer.
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Grant will expand Hospitality Opportunities for People (Re)Entering Society (HOPES) program in nine communities.
Department of Labor Funds will expand the Foundation's Hospitality Opportunities for People (Re)Entering Society (HOPES)program in nine communities: Los Angeles, CA; Dover, Georgetown and Wilmington, DE; Boston, MA; Worcester, MA; Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Nashville, TN. With a specific focus on adults aged 18 or older, the program will support their transition from justice-involvement to meaningful employment through tailored industry training, credentialing, job placement and mentorship, and career pathway opportunities.
“The expansion of HOPES reflects our commitment to helping people from all backgrounds, including those with justice involvement, discover meaningful and long-term career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industry,” said Rob Gifford, president of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “We are grateful to the Department of Labor for this opportunity to deepen our investment in people who may come from a justice-involved background, equipping them to build their future through the wide array of professions and careers that our industry offers.”
Established in 2017, HOPESutilizes an innovative community collaborative model that engages its network of state restaurant association partners, as well as community-based organizations, local correctional facilities, and restaurant and hospitality employers to deliver pre- and post-release training, engagement, and employment placement that is aligned with local workforce needs. With the help of strategic partners like the PepsiCo Foundation, which has invested $1 millionto expand the program's core Restaurant Ready curriculumwithin underserved communities, HOPES has served more than 1,200 individuals to-date, with over 85% receiving occupational skills training and over 60% placed in employment – primarily in restaurant and hospitality roles.
Participants in the HOPES program will receive job readiness training through Restaurant Ready, along with ServSafe credentialing, individualized case management, and direct connections to employers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Mentorship and wraparound support will help participants overcome barriers to employment and support long-term stability and job retention.
State Restaurant Association partners include:
— California Restaurant Foundation
— Delaware Restaurant Foundation
— Massachusetts Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
— Hospitality Institute of Ohio
— Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association Education Foundation
— Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association
Local community-based partners include EntreNous Youth Empowerment Services (CA), First State Community Action Agency (DE), Gavin Foundation and Community Counseling of Bristol County (MA), Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries (OH), Community Kitchen Pittsburgh (PA), and Project Return (TN).
Administered by the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the Pathway Home program supports communities in providing reentry employment opportunities for justice-involved individuals.
HOPES is part of the Foundation's broader workforce development initiatives, including the Restaurant Ready program and hospitality apprenticeships, which help individuals enter and advance within the restaurant and foodservice industry. Learn more about HOPES at ChooseRestaurants.org/HOPES.
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, visitChooseRestaurants.org.
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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
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