Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, Foundation Director, Connecticut Hospitality Education Foundation
By Jennifer Conkling-Schmitz, Foundation Director, Connecticut Hospitality Education Foundation
The Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF) and the Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) are proud to announce an exciting new workforce development initiative that is set to change lives and strengthen communities in Connecticut. In partnership with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), Connecticut has been selected as one of six states to implement the HOPES Program through the U.S. Department of Labor Growth Opportunities 5 (GO5) grant. Alongside Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Connecticut will play a vital role in advancing workforce readiness for justice-involved young adults.
Building Pathways Through Collaboration
The HOPES Program is built on a “community collaborative model” where justice agencies, community-based organizations, state restaurant associations and employers join forces. This partnership provides justice-involved individuals with NRAEF’s Restaurant Ready training. HOPES participants engage in both work-readiness and industry-specific learning. By gaining hands-on experience, they are better prepared to enter the workforce while simultaneously connecting to additional credentials and apprenticeship programs that promote long-term growth.
Empowering Bridgeport’s Young Adults
The HOPES GO5 Program specifically targets justice-involved young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 who live in or are returning to the Bridgeport area. By introducing young adults to the “world of work” and aligning them with opportunities that lead to living wages and stable jobs, HOPES fosters not just employees but empowered community members. Beyond job preparation, the program also includes mentorship, leadership development and community violence intervention.
Community Partnerships at the Core
CHEF has partnered with Career Resources Inc., the designated community-based partner for Restaurant Ready training in Bridgeport. Together, they will connect young adults to meaningful internship opportunities with local employers. CHEF and the CRA are actively seeking employer partners to support the program. By offering internship placements, employers provide participants with real-world experience in either front-of-house or back-of-house positions. While there is no obligation to hire interns after the program, the hope is that these connections lead to long-term employment for those who prove to be a strong fit.
What Employers Can Expect
Employer partners benefit from motivated participants who have already completed soft skills training through the Restaurant Ready Program or industry credentials and are prepared to meet key job competencies. Each participant completes approximately 200 hours of paid internship experience. Employers provide supervision, mentorship and opportunities to demonstrate core competencies. The program offers employers a chance to shape the future workforce, strengthen community ties and support individuals who are eager to turn a second chance into a meaningful career.
Expanding Opportunities Across Connecticut
While Bridgeport is the focal point of the GO5 HOPES initiative, Restaurant Ready training is already underway in four Connecticut communities:
• Career Resources Inc. (Bridgeport)
• Havenly (New Haven)
• Merriman Culinary Training at Mission of St. Vincent DePaul (Waterbury)
• New Haven Adult & Continuing Education Center (New Haven)
These organizations deliver training across six industry-defined work-ready competency areas, helping participants build the confidence, discipline—as well as achieve industry credentials including ServSafe certifications—and skills needed to not only start jobs but also remain employed long-term.
A Future That’s Restaurant Ready
The HOPES initiative represents more than a training program—it is a pathway to hope, stability and opportunity. By providing justice-involved young adults with the tools to succeed, Connecticut is making an investment in its communities and its workforce. Employers are encouraged to get involved. Whether through offering internships, mentorship or long-term employment opportunities, every contribution makes a difference in shaping the future of these young adults and the hospitality industry.
