Food industry career training for low-income Delaware residents

Culinary education ain’t cheap. Tuition costs can run from the mid-teens up to $50,000 or more, and that doesn’t include travel and conveniences like room, board and the occasional meal consisting of something other than the mid-term exam. I’ve written more than once about our local restaurateurs who sing the praises of schools such as Johnson & Wales University, the Culinary Institute of America, The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, the Institute of Culinary Education and the Culinary Arts Programs at Delaware Technical Community College and the Hotel/Motel/Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts programs at Wor-Wic Community College.

But circumstances such as poverty or special needs can interfere with the dreams of kids - and adults - who might otherwise excel in the art and science of restauranting, and that’s where First State Community Action Agency comes in. In what Business Relations Coordinator Joann Kirwan calls, “Delaware’s best-kept secret,” the nonprofit FSCAA provides free training in the culinary arts to anybody who truly desires a career in food service. This is not a cooking demonstration or a Suzie Homemaker sauce & gravy brush-up. This is a certified culinary program taught from professionally accepted textbooks and conducted by none other than Chef Lee Stewart, the former owner and founder of Po’Boys Creole & Fresh Catch in Milton.

The upcoming classes are funded by a grant from U.S. Department of Labor. Restaurant partners such as the various eateries at Harrington Raceway, The Counting House in Georgetown, and even Nanticoke Memorial Hospital kick in to provide internships. Students show up on the job with Delaware’s mandatory ABC alcohol server training certification and the equally important ServSafe food sanitation certificate.

The program is offered on two levels. The first is specifically for 9th to 12th graders with special needs. These kids must be motivated to see the program through, as the program extends over four years. Adult classes are offered twice a year and provide 360 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction, along with a 40-hour internship. Obviously the goal is for the internship sites to keep these graduates on as employees. The student must provide proof of citizenship and Delaware residency, transportation and exhibit a strong desire to turn the taxpayers’ investment into full-time, gainful employment.

The restaurants themselves are fertile ground for finding qualified candidates, since the potential student is already employed. More than once, an entry-level kitchen employee has been encouraged to participate in this program in order to advance from the dishwashing station to line cook and … who knows, maybe even to sous chef or chef. The possibilities are endless, but the reality is that once all the grants are granted, textbooks are studied and jobs are shadowed, the ultimate responsibility lies squarely with the student. All the training in the world can’t “make” anybody do anything they’re not motivated to do, so Executive Director Bernice Edwards, Program Manager MaryAnn Morris, Job Developer and Business Relations Joann Kirwan and all the other dedicated people at First State Community Action Agency are always on the lookout for enthusiastic applicants who will make them proud by finding and maintaining full-time employment.

Of course, FSCAA isn’t just about teaching people how to cook. While most poverty-related organizations focus on a specific area of need, Community Action Agencies reach out to low-income people to address multiple needs; partnering with allied organizations and local businesses to administer a full range of programs that they hope will have a measurable impact on poverty.

The agency’s motto is, “People Helping People Build Community.” Sound interesting? Empower yourself or somebody you know by getting more information about Delaware’s Culinary Arts Training Program. Classes are slated to begin in July. Call 302-856-7761 Ext. 160 for information. To register, go online at www.FirstStatecaa.org to take the first step toward changing your life or the life of somebody close to you with a fulfilling career in the food industry.