A newly introduced cooking skills program by the city’s probation department has seen nearly a dozen graduates, marking a significant step forward.
Pollory Angel Rivera, a 52-year-old Brooklyn resident, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “This is my yellow brick path. This will open the door for me.” The participants included graduates with various probation conditions, ranging from possession of weapons to assault.
Over the course of 10 weeks, they gathered weekly at Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine under the guidance of chef Basil Jones, focusing on everything from food safety to service management, all aimed at preparing them for entry-level kitchen jobs, according to probation officers.
Rivera shared that she enjoyed teamwork in the kitchen, highlighting her 15 years of experience in welding. Meanwhile, Davontay Covington, a 24-year-old from Harlem, felt that the program helped him discover his potential, stating, “This is a new aspect of me.” Previously, he only worked in restaurant maintenance.
Students noted various experiences, like Rakim Francis, 36, who admitted to having never tasted beef before joining the class. “I was just using that flow, and the flow now has me,” he mentioned, reflecting on his journey.
The course is designed to assist graduates in obtaining food handler licenses. Tamaya Butts, the program leader, stated that this could enhance their job prospects, revealing that the city would waive the $24 exam fee up to two times.
Butts emphasized the challenging job market for those with backgrounds in the correction system, saying, “When you get a food handler license, you step onto the competition.” Co-owner Jasmine Gerald of Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine plans to hire at least two graduates who pass the exam.
Gerald mentioned that she maintains a list of partner restaurants to help link participants with job opportunities, affirming, “This gives people the opportunity to feel normal.” She stressed that good people can make mistakes but also have the potential to reform.
Case studies indicate a decline in recidivism this year, attributed partially to community programs like this cooking class. The agency reported having connected 847 parolees to meaningful employment so far this year and helped over 5,200 individuals obtain high school diplomas or GEDs.
Probation Secretary Juanita Holmes noted the importance of guidance and opportunities for the individuals they supervise. “I think it’s essential that they be interested in the people we oversee,” she remarked.
Mayor Eric Adams praised the culinary program, expressing eagerness to see how participants use their newly learned skills in various fields. The program is already set to welcome another group of culinary learners from an existing waitlist as new classes are slated to begin in mid-September.
Chef Jones, who leads these classes free of charge, shared his motivation: “One of the instructors told me anything they learned would be useless if they didn’t pass it on to others. It’s an honor for me to do this for these guys because it’s an opportunity if they choose to use it.”
