Putting Justice-Involved Young Adults 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 young adults, ages 18-24 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 young adults 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.