USA | Justice-involved adults will be provided with a second chance through the National Restaurant Association's HOPES programme.
Thanks to a USD 4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labour's Pathway Home Initiative, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation will reach more than 400 justice-involved adults across six states with training, credentialing, and job placement in the restaurant and hospitality industry through its HOPES programme.
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.
Department of Labour Funds will expand the Foundation's Hospitality Opportunities for People (Re)Entering Society (HOPES) programme 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, mentorship, and career pathways.
"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 Labour 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, HOPES utilises an innovative community collaborative model that engages its network of state restaurant association partners, as well as community-based organisations, 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 USD 1 million to expand the program's core Restaurant Ready curriculum within underserved communities, HOPES has served more than 1,200 individuals to date, with over 85 percent receiving occupational skills training and over 60 percent 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, individualised 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.
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