Our Employment Training
Fresh Starts Culinary Academy
Providing 11 weeks of free training in core culinary skills for people reaching for new opportunities.
Hands-on learning in the kitchen
Fresh Starts Culinary Academy provides hands-on learning and classroom instruction with three start dates each year. Trainees receive job placement support and other assistance.
Building skills to launch careers
This flagship training program at Homeward Bound of Marin provides active learning with a curriculum approved by the American Culinary Federation. We enroll low-income adults from the community as well as participants in our shelter and housing services.
The next class will start Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, with training from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
Learn in a working kitchen
Students work hands-on in our kitchen to build core skills and knowledge of ingredients, cooking techniques, kitchen equipment and food safety. Currently, instruction is offered only in English.
The 11-week course, valued at $5,000, enrolls eligible students without charge. We offer a $1,000 bonus to each student upon completion. (Enrollment in our Fresh Starts Culinary Academy counts toward SNAP/CalFresh work requirements, so you can keep your benefits while building a career!)
As a trainee, your key benefits include:
- Learning from professional chefs with broad experience in restaurants, institutional kitchens and catering
- Classroom sessions that include professional development and personal finance
- Food Handler and ServSafe Manager exam fees
- Uniforms and kitchen-approved shoes provided at no charge
- Transportation assistance, if needed
- Job placement support
Catalyst Kitchens
Our program is a Model Member of Catalyst Kitchens, a nationwide affiliate group for organizations that combine culinary training with mission-driven businesses. The training has been approved by the American Culinary Federation.
Funding for this project was provided in part by the United States Department of Agriculture. USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer, and Lender.
Zack's Story
Zack’s family lost their housing in 2019 in the hometown where they lived for years. “My mom was the only one working at that time. It was money, just financially we couldn’t make it,” he says. They lived for months in their car and camping, until they discovered Homeward Bound of Marin in the same town. That’s when Zack learned about Fresh Starts Culinary Academy. He found the hands-on training was approachable and supportive.
“Everything there was useful – knife skills, technique, all of it,” says Zack, who graduated in 2022.
He accepted a transitional position with Wagster Treats, learning to bake and helping elsewhere in our kitchens. Today, he has a full-time position on our culinary team and often leads service for guests as a catering captain in The Key Room and Annexes. He and his parents have moved to an affordable apartment. “Good work, good atmosphere, good people. Things have really changed,” he adds.
Fresh Starts Culinary Academy printable flyer
Download a flyer in English or Spanish with details about Fresh Starts Culinary Academy and the next start date.
These flyers may not be accessible.
