Norwood resident Ronald Adam’s life has taken a turn for the better. Adams, formerly incarcerated after spending 45 years in prison, graduated from the culinary arts training program at Project Renewal, a social services firm that aims to combat homelessness. For Adams, this is not just a graduation but a milestone. It’s the first time he graduated from anything.  

Mosholu Montefiore Community Center (MMCC) recently hired Adams as a full-time chef after finishing a three-month internship with them. “They love my cooking; they come back for seconds,” Adams said, referring to the senior citizens he cooks for at MMCC’s senior center. He loves his job, finding the work valuable towards his mantra of giving back to his community. 

Adams is no stranger to the kitchen. During his time in prison he worked in the mess hall. It was only natural that when paired with Project Renewal he chose the culinary arts track. Adams credits his success to Project Renewal.“I got a pocket full of money. I got a bank account. I got an apartment. I am about to buy a car. Everything is falling in line; all in one year,” he said.

Ruby Davis, who lives in Tremont and was homeless before joining Project Renewal, said the program had a huge impact on her. “When I am famous my first couple millions go to them,” she said. Davis and Adams worked alongside each other during the culinary arts training program’s baking and pastry class where they crafted edible elephant ears together.  “Food is life,” Davis said, referring to why she chose culinary arts.

According to Babara Hughes, a program director or Project Renewal, 82 percent of each class that graduates are placed in jobs, a figure that’s above the national average. Since New York City is a service industry economy, Project Renewal has found a way to fulfill this demand by providing a six- month culinary program.

“There are thousands of food service jobs in New York City. There’s a huge need for food service workers. There’s not a shortage of jobs. There is a storage of people to fill them,” Hughes said.  

While Project Renewal also offers other training programs, including a resident assistant training program specifically geared to those working in the New York City homeless shelter system, the culinary arts program is the longest running track. “I think we’re doing from beginning to end, trying to change the system, trying to get people back to work, and working in a holistic way; on their health, on their housing, their ability to get and keep a job, and doing it in a holistic way,” Hughes said.