Our most recent Culinary Job Training program graduation ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of 41 dedicated and talented individuals ready to take the next step in their careers. In addition to highlighting the graduates’ time at DC Central Kitchen, the ceremony showcased the possibilities that lie ahead for them. Speakers underscored how our graduates use food as a tool for growth, sharing their personal stories with all who gathered at the Capital Turnaround on Friday, October 16th.
We were honored to be joined by a number of representatives from longtime partner the Hilton Global Foundation, which sponsored both classes—and in doing so, became the first ever DC Central Kitchen partner to serve as the presenting sponsor of two consecutive classes in a single year! Hilton has been a robust partner in our work for more than a decade, serving as a hiring partner, externship host, and source of dedicated volunteers. One of those representatives, Katherine Lugar, executive vice president of corporate affairs at Hilton, shared words of encouragement for the graduates.
“Hospitality, at the end of the day, is not about buildings,” she said. “It’s about how we make human beings feel. How we value them. And you’re about to enter a profession with an extraordinary ability to do that.” She continued, “you set a goal, you worked for it, you hustled. And now you’ve got something incredibly valuable.”
Among the speakers was Alexys S., a member of our 116th Culinary Job Training class back in 2019. “When I look back, I realize that I didn’t just come here to cook,” said Alexys. “I came to discover myself. I came here to learn that my past did not determine my future.” Alexys now works for DC Central Kitchen as a lead food service worker on our Healthy School Foods team. “If you told me years ago that I’d be standing here today as a supervisor, I would not have believed you,” she said. “But I am here today. I trusted the process, I made adjustments instead of excuses, and learned to trust myself.”
Jymarrikwy M. shared his story with those in attendance as the graduate speaker from Class 182. He showcased his resilience in recounting his time with DC Central Kitchen.
Jymarrikwy first came to DC Central Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training program in 2024. “I wasn’t ready. I left the program just four weeks before graduation,” Jymarrikwy recalled. But, he continued, “DC Central Kitchen taught me more than culinary skills. It taught me how to communicate, how to accept correction, and how to hold myself accountable.”
“That setback might feel like your whole life in that moment, but sometimes it’s nothing more than a teardrop in the bucket that is your life,” said Jymarrikwy. He came back to the CJT program this year, and last Friday, in a testament to his personal growth and commitment, he earned the Ron Swanson Self-Empowerment Award, given to the student that has shown the most progress in the program’s self-empowerment course.
Jymarrikwy concluded his remarks with a call-to-action for his classmates: “keep learning, keep growing, keep cooking. We earned it, and now it’s time to see what we can become.”
In his closing remarks for the celebration, DC Central Kitchen CEO Mike Curtin said, “these are more than just culinarians and people who are going to be cooking and providing experiences. These individuals truly are believers who are not afraid, and they’re proud to tell people where they came from. They’re leaders because they’re selfless.”
Congratulations to Classes 181 and 182, and a huge thank you to Hilton and all the partners and supporters who made their journeys possible. We can’t wait to see what our newest graduates achieve next!