Make Food Work: A Strategy to Strengthen the DC Food Workforce creates a road map for improving job quality and expanding career pathways within the District’s food workforce. Created with support from Kaiser Permanente, the report is a collaborative effort of the DC Food Policy Council, DC Office of Planning, Workforce Investment Council (WIC) and Department of Employment Services (DOES). We gained invaluable insights throughout the process from workforce training providers, businesses, and community organizations.
The FPC also partnered with DC Central Kitchen on the accompanying Employer Guide to Promoting Workforce Development in the Food Industry. This guide highlights best practices that DC food businesses use to support their workers, increase retention, and grow leaders.
While the goals of the Make Food Work strategy remain relevant in 2025, many of the workforce development training options have changed, and the District has begun convening food Workforce Development providers quarterly, along with District agencies seeking staff to improve the flow of workers to District government food service. The table below of workforce training options in the District was updated in July 2025 based on the working group’s input. If you have additional resources, please email dcfoodpolicy@dc.gov
| Organization | Program Type | Duration | Description | Website |
| Amala Lives Institute | Culinary Arts | 6 months | Hard-to-employ populations, including returning citizens; low-income individuals; single parents; and individuals with trauma | https://www.amalalivesinstitute.com/ |
| Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School | Culinary Arts, including Culinary Arts Fundamentals; International Cuisines; Baking and Pastry | Fundamentals course: 10 months Additional courses: 5 months each | English-language learners; low-income individuals | https://www.carlosrosario.org/courses/class-listings/career-training-programs/culinary-arts-academy/ |
| Catholic Charities | Kitchen Work Program at Good Shepard Kitchen | 12-14 weeks | Hard-to-employ populations; individuals experiencing homelessness; seniors; veterans | https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/ |
| DC Central Kitchen | Culinary Job Training | 14 weeks | Hard-to-employ populations; returning citizens; young adults (18 to 24 years old) | https://dccentralkitchen.org/enroll/ |
| Emma’s Torch | Culinary Training | 11 weeks | Hard-to-employ populations; returning citizens | https://emmastorch.org/program |
| Potomac Job Corps | Culinary Arts | 2 years | Young adults (16- 24 years old); low-income individuals | https://potomac.jobcorps.gov/jobs/culinary-arts |
| Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington | Free ServSafe Food Managers & Alcohol Managers Classes | 1 day | Existing or aspiring food service workers | https://www.ramw.org/training-workshops-and-seminars |
| Thrive DC | Real Opportunity Training Program | 18 weeks (6 weeks of training and 12-week externship) | Hard-to-employ populations; individuals experiencing homelessness | https://www.thrivedc.org/ourwork/employment/ |
| UDC Hospitality and Food Handlers | Hospitality Job Training; Food Safety Training | Hospitality: 6 weeks Food Safety training: 3 days | Low-income individuals; seniors | https://www.udc.edu/workforce-development/pathway |
| United Planning Organization | Culinary Arts Professional | 3 months | Low-income individuals | https://www.upo.org/your-career-development/job-training/ |
Learn more about the Make Food Work Strategy:
Listen to a short podcast about the Strategy here on The Tidbit Podcast