Connecticut Restaurant Association | Hartford, CT
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Restaurant Ready: Building Futures

1/18/2023

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The Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF) and Connecticut Restaurant Association are proud to announce partnerships with three community business organizations in Connecticut that are helping find new restaurant workers and put them on a career path to success. Restaurant Ready is a national program dedicated to helping people acquire the basic job and life skills necessary to pursue jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and jumpstart a pathway to independence.

PictureRecent graduates of the Forge City Works Job Training program.
Forge City Works in Hartford has a long and rich history supporting Hartford residents with barriers to employment learn
back-of-house kitchen skills and customer service skills. They became participants in the Restaurant Ready program offered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) in 2022. 


"When I learned about the Restaurant Ready program and the skills training it can offer community business organizations, I immediately thought of Forge City Works," says Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, CHEF Foundation Director. "In 2023, we look forward to providing connections to restaurant employment and further training for their graduates."

“The Restaurant Ready Curriculum has been a great tool in conjunction with our hands-on job training program at Forge City Works," says Carla Domingo, Workforce Development Specialist at Forge City Works. "It is relevant and easy to teach with the guided lesson plans. Our trainees have enjoyed the group activities and have been able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the workplace. We look forward to using the virtual testing once it's up and running.”

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The Mission of St. Vincent dePaul in Waterbury created their own culinary job training program, the Merriman Culinary Job Training Program, in June 2022. Led by Chef Frank Parafati, he has ensured each student finishes his course with a ServSafe certification and the soft skills that Restaurant Ready provides. 

“Our culinary job training program has excelled, in particular, with applying Restaurant Ready program materials provided through funding by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation” said Chef Instructor Frank Parafati of St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury. “We are appreciative of the partnership with the Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation that has led to our successes”.

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Chef Frank Parafati with students in the Merriman Culinary Job Training Program.
The New Haven Adult Education program adopted the Restaurant Ready program in the spring of 2022. Working with over 25 students per semester, lead instructor Chef Jackie Abelli has brought her students a whole new level of understanding of the restaurant and food service industry through visits to local restaurants and industrial food production facilities. "Field trips help show our students what opportunities are out there for them," says Abelli. "The Restaurant Ready curriculum helps tie it all together as they decide what the right career path is for them." 
"The CRA and CHEF are excited to expand Restaurant Ready to more CBO's in 2023, and make career path connections to our member restaurants," says Scott Dolch, President & CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association and Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation. "Having three community business organizations in all different parts of the state allows us to create partnerships across Connecticut and help create a pipeline of qualified hospitality employees."

Interested in learning how your business can support Restaurant Ready or know a community business organization that may be a good fit as a Restaurant Ready partner? Contact Jennifer, conkling@ctrestaurant.org. 
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New Haven Adult Education students at an Industry Skills Tour at Texas Roadhouse.
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Copyright Connecticut Restaurant Association
270 Farmington Ave, Suite 142
Farmington, CT 06032
Phone: 860-278-8008
Email: info@ctrestaurant.org

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  • Advocacy
    • Government Affairs
    • Government Relations Team
    • Sign Up for CRA Alerts
    • Links & Resources >
      • Food Code Updates
      • 2023 State of the Industry (National)
      • 2022 CT Restaurant Industry Fact Sheet
      • Connecticut Hospitality Fund
      • 2023 Minimum Wage Map
      • Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)
      • Understanding Employee Retention Tax Credit (PDF)
      • Alcohol-To-Go
      • Understanding CT's Tip Credit Law - October 2020
      • Tip Credit Brief
      • EEOC Poster
      • Labor Posters
      • Mandatory Order #8 Poster
      • CT Restaurants Business Conditions Survey Findings 2022
      • MyCTSavings FAQ's
  • About Us
    • Leadership & Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • CRA Prime Partners
  • Members
    • Join the CRA
    • Why Become a CRA Member
    • Member Benefits
    • Member Exclusive Savings
    • Healthcare >
      • Member Exclusive Healthcare Programs
    • Allied Membership >
      • Allied Membership Tiers
      • Allied Member Profile Updates
      • Allied Member Directory
      • 10 Ways to Leverage Your Allied Membership Today
    • Member Directory
    • Allied Member Directory
    • CRA Prime Partners
    • Member Portal
  • ServSafe & Industry Training
    • ServSafe Manager & Food Safety >
      • ServSafe Manager ONLINE
      • ServSafe Manager In-Person Classes
      • ServSafe Food Handler
      • ServSafe Allergen
    • ServSafe Workplace >
      • Sexual Harassment Prevention
      • Unconscious Bias Training
    • ServSafe Alcohol
    • ServSafe FAQ
    • ServSafe COVID Resources
    • Food Safety Regulations
  • Foundation
    • ProStart Weekend 2023 >
      • Restaurants: ProStart Weekend 2023
    • Careers >
      • Workforce Development >
        • Restaurant Ready
        • Apprenticeships
        • Culinary Student Work Sites Application
    • CHEF News: What's Cookin?
    • ProStart >
      • 2023 CT ProStart Invitational
      • What is ProStart?
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    • Scholarships
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  • Why CRA Membership?