Harlem World: Second Chances–The Culinary Arts Training Program
- July 3, 2025
- •Jobs
By Dwayne Black, Veteran, Resident at Veterans Shelter – Long Island City
As a U.S. Navy Veteran and former E-5 Second Class Petty Officer, I have always been a hard worker, getting promotions at nearly every job I have ever held.
That mentality and diligence also led me to earn an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. But, despite these successes, after leaving the military, I found it very challenging to secure employment as a civilian. I had trouble affording stable housing without steady work, and so for the past two years, I have been living at a veterans shelter in Long Island City. My story is my own, but this struggle is unfortunately all too common – after we serve our nation and return home, veterans are particularly likely to face homelessness.
I have always loved cooking and, while living in the shelter, I learned about Project Renewal’s Culinary Arts Training Program (CATP). This six-month job preparation program for a career in the kitchen was being taught right in the shelter, and I knew it was an opportunity I had to pursue.
