THE USC COMMUNITY
Chef Lena Ciardullo and the team at Union Square Cafe are honored to work in partnership with Emma's Torch, Food Education Fund, and Drive Change to achieve our collective goal of bringing up the next generation of hospitality workers by providing access to employment and training to historically overlooked communities. Read on to learn more about how we work together and how you can get involved!
Emma’s Torch is a social enterprise whose mission is to empower refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking through culinary education. Since its inception, Emma’s Torch has helped 160 people with training and job placement in culinary-related professions in New York City. We first started hosting trails with the team at Emma’s Torch earlier this year and have since welcomed five graduates of the program into the USHG family. Learn more about the work that Emma’s Torch does by visiting https://emmastorch.org/
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Food and Finance High School is New York City’s only culinary-focused public high school. They prepare and empower students to continue their education and cultivate sustainable careers through experiential learning in culinary arts, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. The school is supported by the Food Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepares and empowers culinary-focused public high school students and alumni, the majority of whom are BIPOC talent who live below the poverty line. Learn more about Food and Finance High School by visiting https://www.foodfinancehs.org/
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Drive Change is a 4-month paid fellowship for formerly incarcerated youth that focuses on culinary training and professional development. Each week, fellows prepare and serve free and nutritious meals to local communities that are navigating food insecurity. Chef Lena and Union Square Cafe are proud to be one of Drive Change's Hospitality Partners, hosting the fellowships in our restaurant. Learn more about Drive Change by visiting https://www.drivechangenyc.org/
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