HPC 2024

July 24–26, 2024
Marriott Georgetown
1221 22nd Street NW
Washington, DC 20037

For the second annual Hospitality Pathways Conference, NRAEF is welcoming nearly 150 workforce development partners from 30 states, including government officials, industry employers, state restaurant associations (SRAs), community-based organizations (CBOs), local correction departments, and program participants. The jam-packed agenda includes peer-networking opportunities, educational workshops, and interactive sessions to improve program implementation and increase awareness of the wide variety of career pathways in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

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Agenda

Pre-conference: Wednesday, July 24th, 1:00 – 4:00 pm

• Restaurant Ready 101 with separate sessions for both CBOs and SRAs (NRAEF Event Space, 8th floor)
• Success Stories Gathering with our communications team at the Marriott.

Conference Day 1: Thursday, July 25th, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm & Evening Reception

• Morning: Educational workshops (four tracks, including participant engagement, partnerships, program design and more!)
• Afternoon: “Hospitality Journeys” plenary featuring program participants, and interactive afternoon sessions – providing hands-on experience with our latest resources!
• Evening (6 – 8 pm): Welcome Reception & Awards Ceremony (National Restaurant Association Event Space). There will be refreshments, drinks, and an award ceremony (no special attire is required for the ceremony).

Conference Day 2: Friday, July 26th, 8:30 am – 2:00 pm

• Educational workshop tracks, structured networking opportunities, and a powerful closing circle.

Session Highlights

Incorporating Culinary in Non-Traditional Settings
In this session, presenters and attendees will explore creative and practical methods for teaching culinary arts in environments that lack traditional kitchen facilities. Whether you engage participants in a remote setting, a building without a dedicated kitchen space, or face budget constraints, this session aims to equip facilitators and Case Managers with practical strategies to deliver effective culinary training. Come prepared to make your own culinary delights without a stovetop or oven.

Communicating Your Organization’s Story
In this dynamic session, presenters and attendees will delve into crafting compelling marketing and communication strategies aimed at authentically sharing their organization’s story across various platforms and channels. Attendees will then be able to utilize these learned communication and marketing strategies to better resonate with their audiences as well as use storytelling to further drive meaningful action, foster lasting relationships, and grow the work of their organization.

Soft Skills Aren’t Hard – Boot Camp
While “everyone knows” that soft skills are important and often the reason that a participant gets, keeps, or loses a job… it can be very hard to put into words and daily program activities. And it is even harder to get participants to understand and buy into the importance of “work-readiness” skills versus hard skills, like knife cuts and forklifts. This engaging session will give attendees hands-on experience with activities that are fun AND impactful and leave with effective strategies to make work-readiness a part of their programs and a powerful instrument in their participants’ tool belts.

Sustainability – Diversifying Funding Sources
In today’s rapidly changing economic landscape, reliance on a single funding source can be risky for nonprofits. Diversifying funding sources not only enhances financial stability but also promotes long-term sustainability and growth. This interactive session provides nonprofit leaders, development professionals, and board members with practical strategies and actionable insights into broadening their funding base. Participants will learn about various funding sources, including grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, crowdfunding, and earned income opportunities.