• The Dignity Kitchen Training Program is a FREE 10-week workforce development & culinary arts training program with hot & cold components. CIA graduate instructors teach culinary arts skills that participants can apply to real-world food service employment while gaining general job readiness and other life skills.
• Dignity Café located in the Human Services Center in Norristown. Access their menu here.
• Licensed commercial kitchen providing nutritious food to early education centers
• Partnerships with nonprofits to provide meals to reduce food insecurity for families throughout Montgomery County 

• Ensure work-ready employees
• Help reduce poverty & unemployment for adults in the Montgomery County area
• Diminish food insecurity for local families, children, & adults
• Build strong, inclusive educational programming
• Establish an income-producing, self-sustaining social enterprise through a licensed commercial kitchen

Sara Anderson: Director of Culinary Operation YW3CA 

Chef Sara Anderson comes to us with over 20 years of experience in the food service industry. A 1998 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Sara has worked every position in the kitchen through the years. As a new culinary school graduate, Sara worked in the New York City food scene for several years. First working for Roy Yamaguchi, and then hired as a sous chef at AZ working under Patricia Yeo, Sara honed her skills in Asian fusion cuisine, and helped earn AZ a 4-star review from the New York Times. After starting a family and moving to the Philadelphia area, Sara worked for the Upper Merion area school district for 10 years, reinventing the scope of cafeteria food, modernizing the menus, and training staff. When it was time for change Sara came on board at YW3CA, first managing and developing the food program for the Pottstown childcare center and now leading the Dignity Kitchen with the development of the in-house café, contract meals, and assisting with the workforce culinary program. Outside of work, you will find Sara hiking, fishing, and gardening with her children.

Mike Cwik: Culinary Instructor

A 2009 CIA graduate from Hyde Park, NY. Mike has worked every position in the kitchen through the years. Working in Savannah Westin as a banquet cook under Sir Roger Michel. Mike has worked in multiple states along the East Coast ranging from New York to Florida. He’s been a meat cutter at Whole Food prior to accepting a Culinary Instructor role at the YW3CA and is currently developing the first culinary teaching program for the company. Outside of work, you can find him attempting to garden, reading fantasy books, or spending time with his family.

ServSafe

SHARE

Philadelphia Horticultural Society

YW3CA Board of Directors

Catalyst Kitchen

Montgomery County CARES Act