Employment Social Enterprise
An Employment Social Enterprise (ESE) is an organization that exists to provide job training, employment opportunities, and career pathways for people facing barriers to work. It operates partially like a business, generating revenue through goods or services, while its core mission is to support workforce development and economic empowerment.
At Sonoma Family Meal, our Culinary Job Training Program follows this model. We provide hands-on training in a working kitchen, where students prepare food-security meals for the community, contribute to our Provisions meal subscription, assist with Catering with a Cause, support cooking classes, and gain front-of-house skills in our lunch pop-up café.
At the same time, income from these business activities helps fund our nonprofit mission to provide that very same culinary training and food-security meals , ensuring a sustainable, regenerative cycle where our nonprofit programs and revenue-generating services support each other and fuel positive social impact.
By supporting Sonoma Family Meal through any of our services, you’re not just enjoying great food—you’re helping to create jobs, change lives, invest in the future, and strengthen our community.
How Students Learn & Programs Grow
Our program is a 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.