A Special Guest Drops By CKP | Jonnu Smith

A special guest dropped by to learn how we’re cooking up opportunity in Hazelwood.

Our mission resonates with people for various reasons: from wanting to help an individual to having personally experienced barriers to employment and wanting to help give someone else a second chance... to many other reasons in between.

Recently, CKP Executive Chef Bruce W. Harris, Jr. and David Conway (Director of Workforce Development) met Pittsburgh Steelers Jonnu Smith at Pennsylvania Department of Corrections SCI - Fayette, where they presented our Culinary Jobs Training program to the inmates, showing how CKP could be an ideal re-entry point for them.

After the SCI-Fayette event, an inquiry came in about a site visit from Jonnu, who wanted to learn even more about what we do at CKP.

And next thing we knew... Jonnu, along with a rep from the Steelers Community Relations and a rep from his foundation, The Nu Family Foundation, were in Hazelwood.

After Chef Bruce and David, gave the group a tour of our facility, they gathered in the kitchen with staff and students.

Jonnu had the opportunity to get his (gloved) hands dirty, prepping some chicken with CKP Sous Chef, Don, using Chef's own blend of seasonings. It isn't not often we get to say that a Steeler was prepping food in our kitchen. 😊

As the chicken was cooking in the oven, we had time to share stories from a CKP alum (James, Class 103), Chef Don, and Jonnu himself.

Jonnu...

THANK YOU for listening to our stories and for sharing yours. Our students were truly inspired by your words.

THANK YOU for taking the time to come in and learn more about how, through food, we have been changing the lives of the people we serve as well as their families and communities.

You've helped shine a light on our mission and that is priceless.

(Click here to learn why what we do at CKP may resonate with him.