Here at the Youth Detention Facility,
Sacramento County Office of Education has created a culinary arts program.
More accurately, it's a pre-apprenticeship program.
And, with the pre-apprenticeship program, we teach the students the value of building relationships,
in addition to creating a solid culinary foundation.
The cool thing about this is that it very much is the
"earn and learn model." So, once they get out of here, they can start
working with the program at the Youth Detention Facility. But, once they
leave the Youth Detention Facility, they're able to continue on with the program.
And I, as their teacher, am able to continue on with them.
I love it. I love to eat food, so I definitely love working in the kitchen.
It's a learning experience. It's something that, not only I can use while I'm in here
to gain teamwork skills, but also
something I can use when I get out, as far as help me
towards a better career and better future for myself.
We are thrilled that the Sacramento County Office of Education has
pursued this wonderful opportunity for the young people inside
our facility. It really opens up doors for young people. Programs
like this, it builds confidence
in their abilities to be successful, to turn away
from some of the paths that have led them to this facility
and, instead, embrace the opportunities that are out there.
It really helps the youth. Our main goal
of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate.
To help kids to make better choices and to have
better futures. And I think that this activity is perfect.
It's like a good experience. It's like just getting something new. That's why I wanted to be in this program.
I got my food handler's card, and that helped me. Because
on the outs, I can get a job. Such as a restaurant.
It makes me feel good. Because it's like, I'm sitting there, and I'm cooking, and I'm knowing all the skills that I need to learn.
I'm taking the test and I'm doing everything I have to do to be able to
go out in the community and be able to get a job, so yeah, yeah.
I want the kids to know there is a home for them in a career, and a job that
will take them the way they are. And appreciate
the value and the contribution that they can make.
