FOODSERVICE TRAINING & JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM
Create Common Good (CCG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose goal is to empower adults with barriers to employment through foodservice skills training and job placement assistance. Barriers to employment can be overcome by gaining confidence through development of valuable job skills. Through our wholesale business-to-business food manufacturing, we generate sustainable, repeatable revenue making us less reliant on grants and donations and allowing us to model the self-sufficiency we teach.
FOODSERVICE TRAINING & JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM
Create Common Good (CCG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose goal is to empower adults with barriers to employment through foodservice skills training and job placement assistance. Barriers to employment can be overcome by gaining confidence through development of valuable job skills. Through our wholesale business-to-business food manufacturing, we generate sustainable, repeatable revenue making us less reliant on grants and donations and allowing us to model the self-sufficiency we teach.
FOODSERVICE TRAINING & JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM
Create Common Good (CCG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose goal is to empower adults with barriers to employment through foodservice skills training and job placement assistance. Barriers to employment can be overcome by gaining confidence through development of valuable job skills. Through our wholesale business-to-business food manufacturing, we generate sustainable, repeatable revenue making us less reliant on grants and donations and allowing us to model the self-sufficiency we teach.
INSPIRING STORIES
Below we share some stories of the trainees who have gone through our program!
Production worker at Zeppole Bakery
Kristopher
Kristopher found our program through Department of Corrections. When he was released he began our program but shortly after returned to prison for another year. On advice from his case manager, he came back to finish our program. He has autism and wanted to build his social skills to help him be more successful in a job. Through our program we helped him work on soft skills with on-the-job training. This helped him get a job at Zeppole Bakery. He has been able to get a car, his own place, and no longer rely on social security.
Cashier / Front of House associate at Create Common Good
Tory
Tory joined our program because she wanted to try a different career where she felt valued. We are so lucky to have her work with us now! She was referred to us by the 55+ program at Easter-Seals. This allowed her to participate in our program while getting paid training!
Manager of a Bagel Shop
Amber
Amber joined our program back in 2015 and found more than just foodservice training. We saw her confidence fly through the roof. She has been able to reach so many goals because of this program and we are so proud of her!
Barista at Starbucks
Katina
Katina found our program through the Family Self-Sufficiency program at Boise City/Ada County Housing Authorities. She came into our program with the goal of working part-time within two months of graduating our program- and she did it! After not working for many years, adjusting to the program and still caring for her daughter almost stopped her from continuing with the program. We were able to amend her schedule so she could do both and reach her goal. Now she's on her way to reaching another goal: becoming self-sufficient and not relying on social security. We saw Katina's confidence shoot through the roof during this program and we are so excited she went through our program!
Incarcerated Individual
Jack Barricman
Meet Jack Barricman, one of the most recent graduates from our Incarcerated Education Program. At the start of the program, Jack struggled with communication and interacting with others on his block. However, with our program, he was able to learn new skills and gain a sense of purpose for his future. When asked about the impact of the program, Jack talked about how being able to participate in the Servsafe program gave him something to look forward to every day. He acknowledged that while he may not choose to go into food service when he is released, he could readily apply the skills he has learned to any endeavor. With the help of CCG's Job Placement Team, Jack is confident the program will have a lasting impact on his future.
TESTIMONIALS
“This program helped me gain skills that I put to use in the food industry. But it was more than just training. I was in a low place emotionally when I started at Create Common Good. The staff and trainers showered me with positivity and encouragement every day until I believed in myself again. They ignited a spark of hope that had been missing in me for too long. That is an immeasurable gift that I will forever be grateful for.”
- Amber
“The people at create common good are kind and helpful. They use the power of positive and step-by-step training to help you achieve your goals.”
- Tory
"If someone really wants to get into foodservice or get into the workforce and they’re having trouble this is an excellent program to use, excellent. As they’re always able to find someone a job and be able to make things work so that you can get accommodated and I recommend it highly to the disabled, you know, it’s a way to be self-sufficient instead of depending on social security. It’s a way to do where you can afford to do it."
- Kristopher, featured in the video below
Meals on Wheels Employee
Romel
Fleeing persecution in Honduras, Romel found refuge in the United States where a host family in Boise provided him a safe and loving home. He started training with Create Common Good in July of 2020.
Romel completed our program in September with a ServSafe® Manager Certification. He is now employed full-time with Metro Meals on Wheels and loves his job. Employment has enabled him to get his own apartment and buy a car. After years of struggle, he is excited for a bright future and truly feels he is living the American Dream!
Food Service Worker at Local Hospital
Sikabwe
From the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – Sikabwe, a former primary school teacher of 20 years, came to Create Common Good as a quiet and shy new American.It was difficult learning new skills with a large language barrier, but the teacher and student in Sikabwe worked hard and dedicated himself to the material. His patience and perseverance paid off when even before completing the 8-week program Sikabwe earned a job in food service with a local hospital. Full of gratitude and grace, Sikabwe brought all in attendance to tears with his heartfelt speech on graduation day.
Sikabwe has now been steadily working at the hospital and has managed to secure reliable transportation and most importantly, move his family out of the hotel where they had been living since arriving in Boise and into their first apartment in America.
Food Service Worker at Local Eatery
Zaharredin
Zaharredin came to the United Sates from Syria where he had already worked in foodservice for fifteen of his young thirty years - even owning his own restaurant at one time. Zaharredin suffers from extreme PTSD and had a difficult time deciding to attend our program for fear of leaving his wife and children home alone.
Despite his fear, he decided to not let the PTSD remain a barrier to the happiness and prosperity of his family and took the leap to come train with us. He quickly proved himself a whiz in the kitchen! He chopped circles around his teachers during knife skills lessons, taught his class how to toss pizza dough and even led an impromptu dabke (traditional Syrian folk dance) in the CCG kitchen!
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At graduation, Zaharredin expressed his immense gratitude for the opportunity to learn about American cuisine and his hopes for a long career in foodservice in America. He also noted how happy he was to make a great group of friends. Zaharredin was able to secure a job with a locally owned eatery and market making over $10 per hour! We are so grateful Zaharredin joined us at CCG where he was not only able to hone his existing skills but also develop a network of friendship, safety, and trust in his new country.