About
mission-driven hospitality
Inspiration
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.”
Emma Lazarus was a Jewish woman living in New York in the 19th century. She was a tireless advocate for refugees. She called for action during a time when the voices of women were so rarely heard.
Emma also made her voice heard through her poetry, which won her praise from an early age. Her 1883 sonnet, “The New Colossus,” is her most well-known work since some of its verses adorn the base of the Statue of Liberty. Her words are emblematic of a vision for the United States whose core value is welcoming new arrivals.
For over 100 years, those words have greeted thousands of refugees fleeing hardship and dreaming of a better life in America. Although Lady Liberty is no longer the first site for those coming to the United States, the words still ring true.
We honor Emma’s advocacy and her emphasis on vocational training. She created a movement whose legacy we are proud to uphold.
The Problem
For refugees coming to America, one of the hardest parts of the transition can be finding a new job. A job is important for more than just a paycheck. It is a chance to meet new people, practice language skills, and find a sense of fulfillment and self-worth after what can be a jarring and disorienting move.
Enter
Emma’s Torch
We are a non-profit social enterprise. We provide refugees with in-depth culinary training as well as employability, equity, and empowerment training. Throughout our program, students learn in both a classroom and apprentice setting, thanks to our cafes and catering businesses. We set students up for successful employment in an industry in which their cultural heritage and cuisine can be celebrated. What’s more, we provide a community in which they can build supportive relationships.
Mission
To empower refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking through culinary education.
Vision
A country where survivors of forced migration are welcomed as drivers of the economy and enhancers of our communities.
Partners
We partner with some of the largest refugee resettlement and advocacy organizations in the world. Our partners help us identify refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking who would be a good fit for our program.
Who We Serve
Our students face intersecting stressors in their new environments; many live below the poverty level, experience housing instability, lack access to basic resources, and have limited English language skills. Our work gives access to the job market, helps them gain confidence and financial stability to make their own choices, and have full agency over their new lives here in the U.S.
Measurable Impact
2024 Report Highlights
88% of our graduates have been placed in culinary jobs
82% have retained those jobs after the first 6 months
Our graduates increased their projected annual income by 5x
The Evolving Hospitality Industry
Restaurants are struggling to fill line cook positions. We collaborate with some of the most renowned chefs, industry leaders and restaurant groups to help our students find jobs after they graduate.
