EMMAS TORCH LTD
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Mission Statement
Emma's Torch is a New York based non-profit social enterprise that provides culinary training and job placement services to refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking.
About This Cause
Emma’s Torch is a non-profit social enterprise that trains and empowers refugees in the culinary arts. By investing in our refugees’ potential, we prepare our students for successful employment in an industry where their culinary heritage can be celebrated. Emma’s Torch is the namesake of Emma Lazarus, poet of the Statue of Liberty and a staunch advocate for refugee rights. As part of Emma’s Torch, refugees in our program: • Receive technical culinary training and licensing • Attend accelerated English language classes, tailored towards the culinary industry • Gain work experience at the Emma’s Torch Classroom Café • Attend formal barista training at Toby’s Estate • Apply and land jobs in the culinary industry • Are connected with a welcoming, supportive community as they adjust to life in the U.S. Emma’s Torch participants participate in one or two of our programs. Our ESL program is open to ten students on a quarterly basis. Our culinary program includes 170 hours of culinary training and on-the-job skills development. Students receive individual attention as each cohort is comprised of two students and an instructor. We are also collaborating with some of New York’s most renowned chefs, industry leaders, and restaurant groups to facilitate employment opportunities for these students after graduation. Background: Throughout its history, the United States has been a haven for refugees, asylees, and many other populations in need. But the lucky few refugees who arrive in the U.S. face challenges in finding employment, and consistently are undervalued by society. Despite the fact that many refugees, particularly women, come to the United States with rich culinary backgrounds, limited training opportunities have kept the culinary industry, and its social and economic benefits, inaccessible for many refugees. Emma’s Torch seeks to remedy this imbalance by preparing its refugees to enter New York State’s thriving culinary industry. In a state that accepts 5% of refugees coming into the U.S., 9% of New York State residents are employed by the restaurant and foodservice industry. We see potential in this convergence of job opportunities and an influx of prospective employees, which could revolutionize how refugees are absorbed into society. By acknowledging these refugees’ history and cultural heritage as an asset, Emma’s Torch invites them to enrich the American melting pot.