Our Culinary Job Training program isn’t just about helping students find work in the kitchen. Sometimes, it’s about finding their purpose. For Terrence P., it was the latter. “To be honest, I needed something,” says Terrence.
Terrence found that something when he enrolled in our Culinary Job Training program after some encouragement from his sister, who works in the DCCK production kitchen. “Before spring 2024, I wasn’t pretty much doing anything.”
The one thing Terrence’s sister told him about the CJT program was that self-empowerment teacher Jeffrey Rustin was going to test him. “She said, ‘He’s going to make sure you really want it.’”
On the final day of Terrence’s three-day trial, Mr. Jeff wasn’t so sure he did want it. “When I met Mr. Jeff my first time…you know what he did? He sent me home.”
Terrence arrived three minutes late. Mr. Jeff dismissed him and told Terrence he’d see him on Monday. When Terrence came back on Monday, Mr. Jeff remarked, “You really want to be here, huh?”
“I love Mr. Jeff, because he taught me the discipline and the structure that you really need to be in a working environment. He’s getting you ready for work life. He’s not here to babysit.”
Since that trial day obstacle, Terrence has proved he really wants to be at DC Central Kitchen. Working on the facilities team, he’s started a career that allows him to work throughout the Klein Center. “I love my team. I love everything about this place. It’s like a warm feeling when you walk through the door.”
He’s also using the lessons he learned on that final trial day. “When I come in here, I make sure I have my stuff: hair net, shirt, pants, shoes. I’m ready. And Mr. Jeff taught me a lot about that. So every time I see him, I say thank you. He doesn’t know why I’m thanking him.”
In addition to Mr. Jeff, Terrence’s sister also sees a change in him. “My sister loves it. She’s very proud. She tells me that every day, “Man, I’m proud of you. Just keep doing what you’re doing.’”
Both Terrence and his sister are also trying to bring more people into the program. “We try to tell everybody. There is nothing that this place can’t do. They give people like me a chance.”
One of the friendliest presences at the Klein Center, Terrence greets everyone with a contagious smile and greeting. “I was intimidated in life at first. I was shy, I didn’t want to be around people because I didn’t have nothing going on.”
Now, things are different. “This is probably the best job that I probably could have ever had. I work hard. You might see me scrubbing the floor, but I also get to talk to all of the staff. You might see me talking to a cafe worker or a kitchen staff or even our CEO. It’s like family when you come in here. People really care about you.”
This positivity has extended to Terrence’s home life, as well. “My family sees the smile and the laughter. They actually see me enjoying life now.”