Putting Justice-Involved Individuals on a Path to Employment and Independence

Using a Community Collaborative Model, the NRAEF partners with Departments of Corrections, Community-Based Organizations, and State Restaurant Associations to connect adults of all ages with current or previous justice-involvement to career opportunities in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry.

HOPES partners utilize the NRAEF’s Restaurant Ready training framework to equip individuals, 18 years of age and older, who are currently in correctional facilities, on parole/probation, or with former justice-involvement. Once a participant completes work-readiness and industry-specific training, HOPES helps them gain employment in a local restaurant and/or foodservice establishment. NRAEF works with employers and partnering organizations to help further the professional training and education of HOPES participants through connections to credentials and apprenticeship programs.