What Inspires us
Community. Compassion. Collaboration. Over the years, the co-founders of The Nourish Foundation were brought together through synergy of independent philanthropic projects. Although each co-founder drew inspiration from their own experiences in education, fundraising and impacting social change for the underserved, one particular experience served as the springboard to form The Nourish Foundation.
As a pilot program, the Austin Chefling Organization, directed by Chef Olivia Hernandez, provided employment in private catering, paid a living wage, and allowed participants schedule flexibility to best support their personal lives and pursuits. The skills and flexibility of the program allowed for the graduates to pursue careers paths that were previously inaccessible; graduates have applied these skills establish lifelong careers ranging from entrepreneurs to scientists.
The graduates from this program inspired the creation of The Nourish Foundation. This month, we’re featuring one of these inspiring experiences from graduate Omar.
------------------------------
When I first started working for The Austin Chefling Organization I had recently left my job as a salesman. I had left my job due to conflicting timing with my college hours. I had to decide if I wanted to work and dropout of college or continue with my dreams of graduating. When I heard about a program that needed a chef assistant (with training) that could offer flexible hours, livable wage, and train me to work in the food industry, I jumped right in.
Before this program I had never appreciated food and the best place I considered eating was at a major restaurant chain and I hated any kind of vegetables. This experience really opened my eyes to the possibility of what food could be. At first, I started by just grocery shopping to get to know what food to look for, if something was good to use, and what kind of spices and ingredients to always have in stock. When it was finally my turn to do it alone there were many trips back to the store because it was all new to me but as I continued I grew more confident of what was needed for the week or that day.
After I had shown that I could be trusted with the shopping I was taught how to cut, slice, chop all the ingredients needed for the meal. This was difficult for me because I had never really cooked anything other than scrambled eggs, which I later found I out I was doing all wrong! But I persisted through all the work that came with prepping for the day.
As I was going through this process while still in college, this experience helped me decide what I wanted to accomplish through my education. It wasn’t immediate, but while working alongside Chef Olivia her personal experience inspired me to focus my path and pursue Mathematics and Physics.
This experience opened doors that I would never have dreamt someone that grew up on a farm could have. I’ve had the opportunity to work in a start-up business, meet people that are changing the world, and just grow as a person to better the world. I believe that this experience gave me the vision to be someone I knew I could be but didn’t have the courage to be. This opportunity gave me the skills, and attitude to accomplish my dream.
-------------------------
Omar graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas and is currently working at a local biotechnology company where he is applying his skills in mathematical modeling to help development therapies for patients in need.
By providing life skills education, training support, and access to jobs that pay living wages, The Nourish Foundation can ensure that our program participants can always find employment within, not only the hospitality industry, any industry that may offer them financial and career growth.
