Future Chefs

Educational and Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable 14- to 21-Year Olds

Track Sponsor: Amelia Peabody Foundation and Anonymous

Founded: 2008

Current Revenue:  $200,000

Website: http://www.futurechefs.net/

The Need

Research shows that successes or failures during the transition from adolescence to adulthood establish patterns that can last a lifetime. Yet, many disadvantaged youth lack the necessary support to navigate their future and secure postsecondary education or meaningful employment. This is often the case for young people from low-income backgrounds or youth in trade-oriented high schools who are pursuing a non-traditional, non-college bound path.

• In Massachusetts, 59,000 students are in tradeoriented classrooms, and 10,000 live in Boston.
• At the 16 trade-oriented schools in greater Boston, each guidance counselor serves an average of 189 students. These schools lack the capacity to offer individualized career planning or internships with professionals in the field.
• The costs of not having a post-graduation career plan are high. In Massachusetts, as in Boston, one in tenyouth ages 18 to 24 is not working and not in school

About

Future Chefs (FC) is a high impact school-to-career program, annually engaging approximately 100 low-income high school students and recent graduates from four Boston area high schools. FC increases opportunities for advancement of students who commit to a three-phase program of culinary career exploration, future planning and post secondary support and assistance that includes scholarships and placement in steppingstone jobs. With a mission to prepare motivated youth for quality early employment and post secondary educational opportunities in the culinary field, FC is unique in the field of workforce development. FC focuses on a specific career path where the demand for skilled professionals is consistently high. It operate in a geographic area with significant opportunity and growth potential within a high-end food and hospitality industry, and provide a professional career avenue for students who may not envision themselves on that path to success and who are often overlooked for other college access and school to career opportunities. FC operating principles include high quality, standards based education, preparatory and work based experiences, youth development and youth leadership opportunities, and post secondary supports that ensure success.

Join the Cause

In-Kind Support

• Marketing and development expertise
• Meeting and event space
• Website redesign

Financial Support

• $25,000 – Pays salary and benefits for a part-time Food Educator or Marketing and Development Assistant; Covers over six months’ rent on new program space
• $5,000 – Funds a scholarship for a graduating senior to attend college or postsecondary training
• $1,000 – Sponsors travel and food-related costs for four field trips to visit colleges, industry partners, or community service site

Learn More

Want to learn more about Future Chefs?
View their full Social Innovation Forum prospectus here.

Contact Information

Toni Elka
Executive Director
(781) 899-8311
tonielka@futurechefs.net