Portland-based nonprofit hosts culinary education program for those with barriers to employment

The Portland-based organization Stone Soup hosts a twelve-week culinary education training for individuals that have had significant employment barriers, whether that be experiences with substance abuse, gaps in work experience, lack of access to resources or housing, or other systemic obstacles. The program works to equip those participants with skills to enter the food service industry.   The organization was founded in 2018, and its community kitchen program also provides meals to senior care communities, schools, mental health facilities and shelters, some of which are cooked by those participating in the culinary training program, and some of which are cooked by Stone Soup staff.    We’ll hear from the organization’s director, Ellen Damaschino, and one of the participants of the program, Mikey Barth, about the culinary training program, as well as the organization’s work to provide meals to community organizations.