Bake with Purpose,
Grown with Community
What began as a grassroots effort in the heart of San Francisco has grown into a vibrant culinary training hub—empowering thousands through skill-building, support, and second chances.
Our Story
The Bread Project began with a shared vision between co-founders Lucie Buchbinder and Susan Phillips. The two met at a community meeting in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, focused on housing security for residents. There they realized the true path to self-sufficiency wasn’t just secure housing—it was access to real, sustainable employment. And the food industry, with its abundance of opportunity, could offer a route to both stability and growth.
Lucie, a Holocaust survivor originally from Vienna, Austria, had rebuilt her life in the United States and was deeply committed to helping others do the same. Susan, a social worker and sociological researcher from San Rafael, was working closely with residents of the Tenderloin, many of whom were immigrants facing significant barriers to employment. Through her research, she identified the baking and food service industries as rare sectors where people could earn a living wage without a high school diploma, extensive English fluency, or long training periods.
Together, they envisioned a program that would combine hands-on culinary training with job readiness support—not just teaching skills, but opening doors. That idea became The Bread Project.
Where It All Began: SF Baking Institute
What began as a small grassroots effort soon proved its potential. The program first took root at the San Francisco Baking Institute in South San Francisco, where a handful of dedicated individuals came together to train in the culinary arts. These early successes proved the model was effective, and The Bread Project began to grow.
Expanding Through Partnerships
With expanding demand for their services, Lucie and Susan realized that a move was necessary. In 2007, The Bread Project partnered with the Berkeley Adult School and Oakland Unified School District Adult and Career Education, extending the program’s reach to more Bay Area residents eager for a fresh start.
Establishing a Lasting Home for Growth
As the program flourished, the need for a dedicated training facility became clear. In 2010, The Bread Project moved to Emeryville, where it continued to grow, offering both culinary training and a wholesale bakery. Five years later, in 2015, the organization relocated to its current space in Berkeley, California—a large, dynamic facility that allowed expansion to three vital programs.
Recognized for Excellence
Over the years, The Bread Project has received awards for its contribution to the community:
- 2024: 2024 Chris Kindness Award, Awarded to Chef Alain Delangle
- 2021: Certificate of Recognition, Alameda County
- 2010: Certificate of Recognition, California State Assembly
- 2006: Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, U.S. Congress
- 2008: Proclamation, City of Berkeley
- 2007: Certificate of Recognition, State of California
- 2006: Certificate of Recognition, State of California
These honors reflect not only our success but also the widespread recognition of our ongoing efforts to create meaningful, lasting change.
Looking to the Future
Though we’ve come a long way since our early days, The Bread Project is just getting started. Our commitment to creating access to lasting careers in the food industry continues, and we are excited to expand our reach and impact. Every graduate’s success story is a testament to the vision that started with Lucie and Susan’s shared belief that food could be a vehicle for change.
We’re not just baking bread; we’re cooking up opportunities—one life at a time. The future is bright, and with the continued support of our community, we are ready to keep creating change and building better futures for those who need it most.