Friday, April 10, 1998 | 10:14 a.m.
For the first time in years, Victory White has hope.
A recovering drug addict from Memphis, Tenn., White has found his salvation in fish soup chowder, beef medallions and fresh vegetables.
"Crack took control of my life," he said. "I've been sober 13 months now. I quit on my own, cold turkey."
He is one of 14 homeless men completing a culinary arts course at the Community College of Southern Nevada through the Salvation Army's vocational training and job placement program.
"The Salvation Army gave me a chance to start on my life," White said. "I've been in Vegas for 15 years and the culinary program was the best thing that's happened to me since I've been here."
Although the Salvation Army already has an internal Adult Rehabilitation and Drug and Alcohol Work Therapy program, this is the men's first formal training and job placement program.
"Individuals who are motivated to change their lifestyles and make something better of themselves are good candidates for the program," the Rev. Duane Sonnenberg, administrator of the Salvation Army, said.
After making a six-month commitment to the program, the students are housed at the Salvation Army's West Owens campus. They attend the 90-day course with a guaranteed job upon completion. When the course is over, the residents stay an additional 90 days, working and paying back their room and board at the campus.
"By paying back the money, they are learning to take responsibility for themselves," said Susan Markham, counselor and case manager at the Salvation Army.
"It's a phenomenal program. We've had a 100 percent job placement success rate with the first two groups who have completed the course," she said, adding that graduates from the first course are now employed, self sufficient and living independently.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, the students are bused to CCSN's Cheyenne campus for five hours of culinary training each night.
"The class is condensed because their goal is to get them back into the industry as soon as possible," Markham said.
"These guys work hard," said Shawn O'leary, food services director at the Salvation Army. "They go to night class for 15 hours a week and attend life-skills courses, group therapy and chapel. They work 40 hours a week in the kitchen at the shelter -- a kitchen that serves between 1,000 to 1,200 meals a day.
"Just the structured discipline is hard for them."
The partnership between the community college system and the Salvation Army began last summer when Rev. Duane Sonnenberg, administrator for the West Owens shelter had a vision to do more practical training at the shelter. He then approached O'leary with his concept.
O'leary, who planned to teach the class herself, went to CCSN hoping to get a syllabus from the culinary department on how to teach a culinary class.
"At that point it was God's intervention," O'leary said. "While walking down the hallway, I ran into Chef (Giovanni) Delrosario, who suggested teaching the students at the college since they had the proper equipment and knowledge."
Training for the class is held in the modular kitchens where there are 10 operating work stations. Chef Jill Mora, instructor for the course, said that anything you'd find in a commercial kitchen is in the modular kitchens.
Mora, who teaches seven basic professional cooking classes at CCSN, appreciates the dedication to the course that she sees in the group from the shelter.
"These guys come with the desire to succeed in the industry," she said. "They know that when they graduate, there is a job waiting for them."
David Granato, 45, who has been homeless for three years, is rebuilding his life through the program.
Granato, who used to renovate homes for a living, came to Nevada by train three months ago. He'd been traveling around from state to state since his divorce.
"The program got me back on track, thinking about my own life again," Granato said.
He now plans to continue his schooling so that he can get a good job. He says he'd like to work in a fine dining restaurant.
"Most of these guys had limited job skills, poor work skills, history of poor job retention and a lack of self esteem," said Markham, adding that the shelter also focuses on job skills, preparation, interviews and grooming.
The program, which started with funds from private donors and a Title 21 grant, now receives full assistance from the state. The employment security program, which provides tuition, books, uniforms and kitchen tools for the students, also agrees to pay 50 percent of their pay checks for a three-month period as part of the on-the-job training.
"It guarantees them a job and allows employers an opportunity to take a risk," Sonnenberg said.
Graduates from the second group are working at the North Las Vegas Airport, Magoo's, work study at the college and for Aramark Food Service Corp. that provides meals for schools, businesses, institutions and sporting events.
One of the graduates works at UNLV for the Aramark program and several are working at Ethel M. Chocolates in the employee cafeteria.
The students take two classes, "Basic Cooking" and "Garde Manger" (cold food productions), which Mora says will qualify them for a number of jobs.
"These guys are qualified to work in garde manger, any prep kitchen, coffee shop line or cook position in a hotel. Some are way beyond a coffee shop line," Mora said.
Mora who's had the opportunity to work closely with the students, said she sees a big change in the students' confidence level during the semester.
"They're a wreck when they come in here knowing that they are going back to college at their age and situation," Mora said. "At first they think they're alone, but then they realize that there are people on their side and they're less afraid of life.
"The important thing is to let them know that it's OK to make mistakes, that they're learning and challenging their abilities. Eventually they find out that they can survive in a college environment.
"By the end of the semester, they really come out of their shells. "They come into the course, saying they want to be a line cook, but they leave wanting chef positions."
Mike Duram was staying in the Salvation Army's overnight shelter when he heard about the culinary program.
Duram, from Aspen, Colo., has been homeless in Nevada for four months.
"Salvation Army has given me the tools to go out and start a new life," he said. "My family is proud of me. Nobody in my family has ever graduated from high school. I'm the first one to go to college.
"I've never finished anything in my life. I always worked halfway, then moved on. This is the first time I've ever stuck with anything."
Duram, who's also trying to get his GED through the Salvation Army, says that he wants to go directly to work, get stable and functional in society, then take more classes.
Duram and White, who have become friends through the program, are talking about starting their own catering company together.
"My mom and grandma are happy that I'm finishing something for once. I might have them come for graduation," Duram said.
Sonnenberg said that 300 people a day access the day shelter; 165 sleep at the shelter each night and 115 are enrolled in a rehabilitation program.
"This program is not just a one shot deal," said Sonnenberg who plans to continue with the culinary program eventually to expand the training into porter training, heavy and light duty.
The college has approached the Salvation Army about its Hospitality Institute Program that trains front desk clerks. Sonnenberg said they expect the new program to start up within the next 12 months.
Markham said that 50 percent of the last graduating class have enrolled in another culinary program at the school and that 60 percent of the students are filling out Pell grants for the summer and fall.
"Six months ago, they had no idea what a Pell grant was," Markham said. "This is a group that have probably never gone on to higher education. We are here for them. They need to know that education is available."
archive
