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f
ather Joe’s Villages has been investing in job
training programs benefiting people who are
homeless for over 15 years. Their goal is to help
people gain skills, qualify for good jobs and get a
head start toward independence.
In 2002, Father Joe’s Villages introduced the Freddie Evarkiou
Culinary Arts Program (CAP), designed to prepare individuals
for work in the restaurant and hospitality industries through
classes, mentorship and hands-on training. This program has
been so successful that in 2017, 92 percent of their culinary
arts graduates got jobs in local restaurants, earning more than
the minimum wage.
Ralph, a 2017 CAP graduate, was recently promoted to a full-
time prep cook. CAP not only made this result possible but also
helped him in other aspects of life. Ralph shared, “Over the last
year of my life, many changes have occurred! I have gained
confidence in my work skills; my financial standing has improved
significantly; I have become more sociable… and I have become
independently responsible for my routine needs.”
Encouraged by CAP’s success, Father Joe’s Villages enhanced
their job training program to target more industries needing well-
trained, motivated and committed employees to fill vacancies.
Their Skills Training Enhancement Programs (STEPs) started
late last year and provides practical on-the-job training and skills
certification in industries such as maintenance, security, retail,
landscaping, warehouse, property management, bicycle repair
and more. While the program is still in its infancy, the impact can
already be seen in the increased confidence and competence of
STEPs’ students.
“I love to see the smiles on our students’ faces each time
they master a new skill, whether it’s giving a bicycle a tune-up
or mastering a crème brûlée recipe,” Father Joe’s Villages’
President and CEO, Deacon Jim Vargas shared with Giving
Back Magazine. “They know that each step they take brings
them closer to a stable job, closer to self-sufficiency and
closer to home.”
82 GBSAN.COM | JULY 2018
Culinary Arts Program