COMMUNITY CULINARY SCHOOL OF NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT

Changing Lives Through Cooking

aka Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT   |   New Milford, CT   |  http://communityculinaryschool.org

Mission

We seek to empower participants, qualifying them for jobs that earn a living wage in the food service industry and helping to feed the hungry while doing so.

Ruling year info

2009

Executive Director

Dawn Hammacott

Main address

40 Main St

New Milford, CT 06776 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

26-3551690

NTEE code info

Vocational Technical (B30)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Register now

Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT is fundamentally changing the lives of program participants through job and life skills training leading to careers in the food service industry. Participants are unemployed or under-employed and primarily at or below 200% federal poverty level. Training touches on all aspects of working in a professional kitchen including ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification and internships at area food service establishments. Life skills training includes employment workshops and financial literacy. The school is the congregate meal provider for the New Milford Senior Center and the emergency food provider for the Town of New Milford with all other food prepared in classes donated to the New Milford Food Bank. The preparation of this food provides valuable hands-on experience for program participants. Job placement rates are at 96% with a 95% retention rate post six months graduation.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Education and Job Creation

Culinary job training is the main focus of the Community Culinary School. Since its inception in August 2007, the school has empowered unemployed and under-employed participants, most at or below 200% federal poverty level, qualifying them for jobs that earn a living wage. The culinary curriculum touches on all aspects of working in a professional kitchen and includes ServSafe certification as well as internships at area food service operations.

The training provided by the Community Culinary School allows these participants, many of who have faced barriers to success prior to enrolling in the program, to work towards achieving long-awaited economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families.

The School's program boasts a 96% job placement rate, a 95% job retention rate, and 100% of graduates have passed the ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification exam.

No student is turned away based solely on financial need. Funding is available to cover the cost of tuition. Nearly 80% of students qualify for sponsorships paid for by the School.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The life skills training portion of our program includes employment workshops, our “Your Professional Self” series, and financial literacy workshops. The life skills acquired at the Community Culinary School gives our students a competitive and marketable advantage in the job search process, enabling them to secure employment with the opportunity for a career path.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The Community Culinary School addresses the root causes of hunger in our community as part of the student training experience. Our students prepare meals, with some ingredients received from the Connecticut Food Bank, as part of class instruction to a finished product, which are donated to families and individuals through our local food bank. Food produced in classes feed 170 households weekly, with an average of 2,000 meals prepared per session. Preparation of these meals allows our students to give back to those less fortunate and become part of the solution to working towards alleviating hunger within our community.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Accreditations

Great Nonprofits Top-Rated Nonprofit 2021

Affiliations & memberships

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, ServSafe Instructor/Proctor 2022

Connecticut Food Share Member 2022

WIOA Employment Training Provider 2022

SNAP Employment Training Provider 2022

New Milford Senior Center Meal Provider 2022

Town of New Milford Emergency Food Provider 2022

New Milford Chamber of Commerce Member 2022

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

The Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT aims to provide job and life skills training, leading to food service careers, to unemployed and underemployed adults while addressing hunger in our community.

The school provides comprehensive culinary training that touches on all aspects of working in a professional kitchen including ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification and internships at area food service operations. Life skills training, that includes employment workshops and financial literacy, helps participants secure employment with the opportunity for a better life for themselves and their families. Food insecurity in the community is addressed as food produced in classes is donated to local food banks. The school also serves as the Congregate Meal Provider for the New Milford Senior Center as well as the Emergency Food Provider for the Town of New Milford.

Professionally trained Chef Instructors and ServSafe Instructor/Proctors provide culinary and food safety training. Employment specialists provide employment skills training, resumes, and financial literacy. The school has developed extensive relationships with food service providers for internship and employment opportunities for participants. We are a member of Connecticut Food Share and partner with agencies and food banks to provide hunger relief.

The Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT has trained 300 individuals in the culinary arts, enabling them to secure employment with a career path in the food service industry. Participants and staff have prepared 70,000 meals for donation to local food banks and for New Milford seniors since inception in 2007.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Unemployed and underemployed adults.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys, Case management notes, Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    Most feedback is anonymous so relationships with the individuals are not affected. Feedback has mostly resulted in changes to curriculum, improving on the learning process.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,

Financials

COMMUNITY CULINARY SCHOOL OF NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT
lock

Unlock financial insights by subscribing to our monthly plan.

Subscribe

Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more about GuideStar Pro.

Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

COMMUNITY CULINARY SCHOOL OF NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT

Board of directors
as of 1/19/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Gary Lucente

Medling, Lucente, and Associates

Term: 2019 - 2023


Board co-chair

James Chiavelli

NPS Media Group

Term: 2019 - 2022

Gretchen Barbieri

Savings Bank of Danbury

Lisa DiCandido

Retired

Carl Dill

Retired

Oley Carpp

Corporation for New Milford Economic Development

Priscilla Williams CPA

Connecticut Businesses Services

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 01/19/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/19/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.