Women who are incarcerated at the Nueces County Jail are learning how to cook through a new culinary training program offered at the facility.
On Wednesday, four of those women demonstrated their culinary skills by serving lasagna, garlic rolls, Italian-style salad and banana pudding to attendees at a graduation ceremony held at the jail.
With a nationally recognized workforce certificate and a food handler card in hand, the women will continue their education or begin working for Aramark, which contracts with the jail to provide the IN2WORK culinary training program.
IN2WORK aims to provide education and employment opportunities to incarcerated people through classroom and hands-on experience to break the cycle of incarceration and reduce recidivism. Many people held in jail who are awaiting their day in court can acquire skills through the program.
Through a partnership with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office, incarcerated people train in a classroom at the jail to complete and earn certification. Upon graduation, they can apply to earn up to $2,500 in grants and scholarships for the next five years to continue their education or pass on to a dependent.