Why Our Graduates Stay Employed
Every year, The Bread Project helps over a hundred low- to no-income Bay Area residents take the first steps toward meaningful employment and economic self-sufficiency. This year is no different, and we have started 2026 off strong, graduating our first two cohorts, and starting a third. While the technical skills are essential, we’ve found that the ‘secret ingredient’ to our students’ long-term success is the robust support system they receive for both inside and outside the kitchen.
During the five week program, trainees learn how to work in a commercial kitchen to prepare food at scale. The hands-on program gives students a well-rounded education, covering everything from recognizing and using professional grade equipment, to measurements and culinary math, to cooking techniques like baking and braising. Outside of the kitchen, we provide training in the soft skills they will need to land that job and climb the ladder. We cover resume writing, conflict resolution, interviewing techniques and teamwork and leadership skills. At the end of the program our students will have earned their California ServSafe Food Handler certificate, making them ready to step into roles in commercial kitchens, from the restaurant industry to catering to healthcare.
For our 2026 students, that support outside the kitchen is what elevates The Bread Project beyond other job training programs. It is the right ingredient that turns a temporary job into a lasting career path.
“A lot of folks in the program have never really had access to training programs that offer support on career development and how to go find a job and navigate your career”
2026 graduate, Jeff
While the support outside of the kitchen will help them interview for positions, the skills they learn in the kitchen are what make them strong candidates to Bay Area food businesses. Every day our students come out with new skills.
“Chef is an awesome person and mentor,” said Esther Nava, a 2026 graduate. “We would learn four or five things a day.”
Our students leave the program with the knowledge and skills needed to be ready to work right away. And the results speak for themselves: 85 percent of graduates find work within 30 to 60 days of graduation. Those jobs last too, with 85 percent retention rates after three and six months on the job. We also follow our graduates for 12 months after graduation, providing personalized job placement and career support. They also join our alumni network, which provides networking opportunities with other graduates and potential employment opportunities with our partners and graduates of our Food Entrepreneurs’ Business Incubator.
With an average cost of over $7,000 per student, our training program relies on the generosity of supporters like you to continue to reach as many students as possible. If you’d like to support us, you can register for our 26th Anniversary Gala on April 22, 2026!
If you are unable to join us at RISE this year, please consider a contribution to The Bread Project. Click here to give.
