During his first days of training at FareStart, Anthony (he/him) played the part of a novice eager to learn. He mentioned nothing about the associate’s degree in culinary arts he had earned two decades earlier, prior to life going sideways. He had also learned a lot growing up cooking alongside his Filipino mother and aunty.
“I came to the program with my cup empty so I could fill it all up,” Anthony said. “Even though I knew a lot, I wanted to be real humble.”
Eventually his chef instructors noticed how advanced he was with knife skills and so many other kitchen fundamentals take time and lots of practice to hone. They urged him to quit holding back.
“You’ve got this,” they told him. “Don’t sit back anymore. Your leadership traits are coming out. The sun shines on you.”
Owning, Sharing & Building on Strengths
During the second month of FareStart’s 12-week Food Pathways Program, Anthony stepped into his strengths and embraced the opportunity to share his knowledge. He helped students around him refine their skills and build confidence in their capabilities.
When the time came for a group capstone project, he came up with the entire menu. He and his cohort determined all the ingredients, crunching all the numbers to make sure they had the right amount of every ingredient.
Everything on the menu was a roulade, a rolled dish. The appetizer: lumpia (Filipino egg rolls). The entree: spinach and Havarti-stuffed chicken roulade with a red pepper cream sauce. The dessert: rolled French toast with strawberry cream cheese filling.
“Taking charge of the capstone, I felt like the head chef,” Anthony said. “Our chef trainers said this was the first time a student had come up with the whole menu.”
“I can’t take all the credit,” he quickly added. “My cohort, they’re the ones that did most of the work. I just directed them.”
Embracing New Opportunities
During his final days at FareStart, Anthony submitted multiple job applications, touched up his resume, practiced mock job interviews, and prepared to keep his chin up if he didn’t land a job right away.
He arrived early for his job interview with Gantry Public House, which plans to open a second location near Climate Pledge Arena later this spring. Anthony’s resume impressed the head chef, and the interview went well. Anthony mentioned that he had learned about FareStart while incarcerated and asked if his criminal background would be a problem.
“No, not at all,” the chef said. “I know that doesn’t define who you are right now. I can tell by your resume that you have a lot of experience.”
Anthony got the job and immediately started training for his role as Person in Charge (PIC). His duties will include overseeing every aspect of daily operations, from monitoring time and temperature controls for food safety to managing inventory and supervising staff.
Students come to FareStart at various stages of overcoming significant barriers to employment. Some are re-entering society after serving time in prison. Some are getting back on their feet after living on the streets or grappling with addiction. Whatever the circumstance, all students are welcomed with compassion, respect, and a belief in their potential.
Graduation, Guest Chef Night and Beyond
From the first day of training to the last, he showed up with equal parts eagerness and gratitude. His sister and son turned out for his graduation in March. He hadn’t seen them in a long time and was honored they came to show their support.
While introducing him, FareStart’s Chef Laura raved about Anthony’s skill, his enthusiasm, and his drive. She talked about the town in the Philippines where his parents came from, Pampanga, which has a reputation for being home to amazing cooks. She mentioned Anthony’s dreams of opening his own restaurant/bakery someday.
“He needs to hurry up and start it so I could go work for him,” she quipped, “because I may be an OK chef, but against him, I would lose.”
When it was his turn to speak, Anthony mentioned a saying that means a lot to him, one that reflects the pride he feels about the remarkable accomplishment that he and his fellow graduates now have in common:
“Sometimes it’s you. Sometimes it’s me. But there’s always going to be a we, so let’s show our greatness together.”
In 2026, FareStart expects to enroll 400 people across our job training programs. Learn more about how to get involved and support our work.
