Highland Park bistro helps shelter residents stand on their own

Highland Park doesn't usually get a lot of positive attention. But, just as is the case in Detroit, that's not the whole story. Here's one of the bright spots of the city: A bistro that helps local shelter residents get on-the-job culinary arts and hospitality training to students who live in a shelter.

Excerpt from the Detroit News:

The Cornerstone Bistro, a new destination in Highland Park, offers high-end dishes and serves up on-the-job culinary arts and hospitality training to students who live in local shelters.

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, a 101-year-old community service nonprofit, partnered with Wayne County Community College to establish the restaurant and a four-month certificate program, which can accommodate about 40 students and possibly allow them to earn transfer credits toward an associate degree.

Participants receive a stipend while at the bistro, which opened a week ago, and job placement assistance when they finish the program.

"We needed to complete the cycle of rehabilitation to get them back to the mainstream of life," said Chad Audi, the mission's president.

Students work as wait staff, cooks, managers and greeters, and take classes to learn about food-related topics ranging from preparation and sanitation to food-borne illnesses.

Read the entire article here.
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