Hot Bread Kitchen – one of L+M’s 2019 Grantees – celebrated its biggest graduation cohort yet with 35 women completing the training program in June. The nonprofit social enterprise creates economic opportunity by training women for careers in food and connecting them to meaningful employment.

Lydia Rivera, one of Hot Bread Kitchen’s Summer 2019 Graduates, spoke at the ceremony and said: “Hot Bread Kitchen took something I never thought I could succeed in, and made it a lucrative career for me. They took me under their wings and not only taught me a skill/trade, but also gave me the tools and support I need to succeed.” You can read all of Lydia’s graduation speech here.

Lydia is now working at Marta, an upscale Manhattan restaurant inspired by the traditional, rustic Roman pizzeria. However, Lydia’s success represents one story of many. Over the past 10 years, more than 400 women have graduated the program and Hot Bread Kitchen shares that 100% of women who complete their culinary training are offered full time jobs, which provides economic security and opportunities for advancement.

In addition to its robust training program, Hot Bread Kitchen hosts a culinary incubator that offers commercial kitchen space and access to development support for burgeoning businesses.

L+M is pleased to support Hot Bread Kitchen so they can expand their training program and their alumnae can conduct outreach and recruit women from Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, who are traditionally harder to reach. Additionally, L+M’s support helps Hot Bread Kitchen build relationships with new employers and increase the number of job opportunities available to graduates.

Congratulations to all of the Graduates – we wish you the best of luck in your culinary careers!

Photo courtesy of Hot Bread Kitchen