Shon\’s long-term goal: a satisfying, stable, drug-free life

Thank you providing a Catalyst Kitchens student with a ‘life and employability’ skill training program. Your generosity supported Shon. You can find his story below.

“If you want to change your life, you need to decide to do it. Anyone can open the door for you, but it’s up to you to walk through it.”  — Shon

In 2010, Shon turned 53 and decided it was time to turn his life around. Having grown up with six sisters who were always in the kitchen cooking, Shon knew he had an interest in the culinary arts. After years of arrests and time spent in jail, Shon found out about FareStart while at a local treatment center.

When he first applied to FareStart, Shon thought he would have a hard time getting into the program because of his rocky past, but discovered that he was met with acceptance and encouragement. He enrolled in the program and felt an instant excitement about being back in the kitchen. He bonded with the chefs and enjoyed learning new skills and “kitchen lingo,” so much that he did not want to leave at the end of the program. “I could have stayed at FareStart forever if they let me,” Shon recently said. When asked about his favorite part of the program, Shon said (besides working on the line), he appreciated that the counselors worked one-on-one with him teaching him life skills, and that everyone seemed to take an interest in his progress.

Shon graduated from FareStart in July and currently works as a dishwasher at Etta’s, a Tom Douglas restaurant. Shon’s short term goal is to get an apartment in his own name and his long term goal is to enjoy a stable, satisfying, and drug-free life. His personal philosophy for success is, “If you want to change your life, you need to decide to do it. Anyone can open the door for you, but it’s up to you to walk through it.”

Catalyst Kitchens – a national initiative of FareStart – works to replicate, strengthen, and scale foodservice social enterprises that provide job and life skills training for individuals facing significant barriers to employment. Catalyst Kitchens is a collaborative network of nearly 40 organizations with a shared vision — empower individuals through comprehensive, applied training; operate sustainable food service social enterprises; and provide nutritious meals for communities in need.

Your generous donation, Susan, Alyce, Brian, and MSAF, will provide students like Shon with essential wrap around services during the training program as well as life and employability training to both get and keep a job. This includes skills such as resume writing, interviewing, personal presentation, and job negotiation.

Thank You!