Nine students are preparing to work in a commercial kitchen, perhaps their own, in the inaugural class of Tec Centro Berks’ culinary arts program.
After successfully launching two allied-health training programs in cooperation with Reading Area Community College over the past year or so, leaders of the Berks Latino Workforce Development Corp. were looking to switch tracks to the hospitality sector.
All that stood in the way was a commercial kitchen.
The organization, also known as Tec Centro Berks, lacked a facility for a culinary arts program at its home in south Reading, said Violet Emory, executive director.
The fledging organization collaborates with nonprofits, including the Hispanic Center of Reading and Berks County, to expand its reach.
When he learned the lack of a kitchen posed an obstacle in launching a culinary arts program, Michael Toledo, president and CEO of the Hispanic Center of Reading and Berks County, offered use of the Hispanic Center’s kitchen, Emory said.
This paved the way for the 10-week program to begin this fall. Their classroom is the kitchen on the first floor of the Hispanic Center’s home at Second and Washington streets.
Nine students make up the inaugural class. They’re learning basic safety practices for preparing and serving food — from dicing raw meat and vegetables to sanitation.
The 10-week course culminates with review and preparation for the ServSafe exam to receive a food-handler certificate from the National Restaurant Association.
The class meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
The culinary arts program was envisioned as a daytime program, but it became an evening program with the kitchen only available after 5 p.m., Emory said.
As with its other training programs, the course, taught by a bilingual instructor, sets up students for employment in a sector in which trained workers are in demand.
“Employers are looking for people who are ServSafe-certified so they don’t have to provide the training,” Emory said.
The program is not designed for people who just want to develop skills for use in their own kitchen, Emory said. Participants have to be interested in working for a commercial kitchen such as a hotel.
Several of the participants plan to operate their own restaurants or food trucks.
Among them is Yonette Webster, 53.
A native of Guyana, South America, the Reading resident said she’s been cooking since she was 9 years old with her grandmother who raised her.
“I still cook for my church and my kids’ friends,” she said. “I already know how to cook but not in the professional way. My goal is to have my own cafe.”
The United Way of Berks County funded the first group of culinary arts students, Emory said.
Tec Centro Berks has been phasing in converting space at its home facility at 450 S. Sixth St. into classrooms for its programs with the help of a grant, but a facility for culinary arts instruction isn’t in the immediate plans, she said.
Tec Centro last year launched a state-certified nurse aide program in partnership with Reading Area Community College. The current class is its fifth.
In the spring, it graduated its first phlebotomist course. This fall, in addition to the culinary arts program, it launched a medical billing specialist course.
Its next clinical program — medical assistant — is planned for next year.
Students are recruited through community outreach events, social media and referrals from graduates and partner organizations, including ESL (English as a second language) programs.
“We have a waiting list of over 500 individuals,” Emory said.
Graduates receive case-management services for a year after graduating. The organization helps them overcome difficulties such as navigating the public transportation system.
“You have to set them up to be successful by addressing those barriers,” Emory said.
