We’re excited to introduce KCC Urban Farm’s new Farm Manager, Cris Izaguirre!
Cris completed the Ecological Horticulture Apprenticeship at the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems in Santa Cruz, California (the same training program as our previous, Farm Manager, Silvia Torres!). Previously, Cris worked on permaculture and Native Hawaiian farms on the Big Island of Hawaii, while also assisting elementary school gardening classes at Honaunau Elementary School. Having worked part-time as a Farm Assistant pre- and post-Hurricane Sandy at KCC Urban Farm, Cris feels like they are returning to their farming home.
On July 20th, Kingsborough’s Northeast Resiliency ConsortiumCulinary Arts program hosted an employer event where our partners from Workforce1, a program of NYC’s Department of Small Business Services that connects qualified candidates to job opportunities in NYC, and a manager from a local Chipotle restaurant, came to KCC to talk about jobs in NYC’s fast-paced culinary industry. Additionally, participants were invited to directly apply to food service positions available at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The highlight of the event was a past NRC Culinary Arts participant who shared his experience in the program and how it impacted both his employment and personal life.
KCC Students! Did you know you can get FREE and FRESH farm produce grown and harvested on campus from KCC Urban Farm? Not only will you get bunches of produce, but you’ll also be able to sample yummy recipes of what you can make with what you take. Distributions happen every Thursday beginning at 11:30 and will continue until everything is gone.
Locations alternate between KCC’s Single Stop (V-231) and KCC Urban Farm (between T8 and T2). This week’s distribution is at Single Stop. Stop by at 11:30, bring your KCC ID, and get ready for fresh, delicious, and healthy food!
David Zubin 24, is a current student KCC’s Project Rise. Since enrolling, he has made it his mission to earn his TASC Certificate and find employment. Although it hasn’t been easy, in 8 months he has come closer to meeting goals–reaching over 100 internship hours, finding part-time employment and, working his way to taking the TASC Exam. “I love Project Rise and I focus on what is important: getting my GED, completing internship hours, and working at Applebee’s. I love working!”.
His hard work has paid off. David is the first Ambassador in Project Rise’s Ambassador Program. Since taking on this new role, his class attendance, participation, grades, and confidence have all gone up. “Now I feel important, like I am really needed. Sometimes I get excited and brag on Facebook and to my friends about what I do as an Ambassador.”
Have you heard about culinary (Culinary Arts and Food Service Upgrade) and health (Community Health Worker) training programs through the Northeast Resiliency Consortium at Kingsborough Community College? No? Out programs provide high-quality workforce skills that will help you start your career and educational incentives that put you on your way to higher education. Pretty awesome, right?
If you’ve read about our programs and you’re interested, good news! We have just finalized application sessions for Fall 2015 starting in July and going through August. Click here for more details. If you’re interested but would like to have more information, please contact us at 718.368.4637.
The CEWD Ambassador Program at KCC’s Project Rise is part of the program’sInternship Tier System designed to provide the students the opportunity to gain specialized skills that are useful in the workplace and in their personal lives. Ambassadors learn skills such as professionalism, public speaking, networking, marketing, self-awareness, and responsibility.
Unlike many internship programs, this one allows ambassadors to work within a supportive and engaging professional environment where they learn about CEWD’s other workforce programs, teamwork and leadership, setting work schedules, developing marketing materials, networking with other professionals and neighborhood businesses, and serving as representatives of CEWD at citywide events, fairs and conferences.
This program not only aids students in self-improvement and self-confidence but also helps them overcome hurdles and barriers. Through activities such as role-playing, ice breakers, team competitions, memory quizzes, and the implementation of the “Selfie Race” (taking a selfie photo during the outreach and recruitment events with the Hashtag #CEWDwashere), each individual will utilize various learning techniques that will ultimately widen their horizons to new opportunities and success.
Note: If you are a current Project Rise participant and want to become an Ambassador, please note that slots are limited. Each participant is given the same opportunity to apply and interview for the program. Speak with Project Rise’s Associate Director, Dina LiMandri for more information.
Do you watch the widely popular cooking competiting, Master Chef? If you’re watching this season, take special note of Shelly Flash. In 2013 she enrolled in our very own Northeast Resiliency Consortium under the Culinary Arts training program. Shelly completed the program and, with 9 banked college credits, immediately enrolled in KCC’s Culinary Arts program.
From a recent KCC press release, Chef Thomas Smyth, Director of KCC’s Culinary Arts program, noted that Shelly was “extremely eager to get started learning. She has a wonderfully effervescent spirit and a unique, undeveloped talent for cooking, which serves her well as a MasterChef contestant. We’re proud of her, and are rooting for her all the way.”
If you’re interested in building or refining your culinary experience, check out KCC’s NRC training program. Participants receive:
Full suite of employment readiness services
Job placement assistance and job retention services
College enrollment assistance
The opportunity to bank college credits
Personal supportive services
We have a few Application Sessions remaining for this summer’s cohort. Sign up to find out more about our exciting program!
Cookshop at KCC is a collaboration between KCC’s Single Stop and KCC Urban Farm. Intended for students and at least one family member, participants will:
Learn how to cook a nutritional meal with cheap and accessible fresh produce
Learn about budgeting for eating healthy
Leave with all the groceries needed to prepare that day’s recipe
Classes are Monday evenings from 5:00-6:30 and run from June 22nd-July 27th. If you are interested in signing up, contact Hattie Elmore from KCC’s Single Stop either at hattie.elmore@kbcc.cuny.edu or 718.368.5411.
Designed by Farm student aide, Tirrell Alford, the logo features KCC’s iconic MAC building (Marine Aquatic Center…did you know KCC has an aquarium on campus?) and what some might say is the Farm’s most famous produce: carrots. We couldn’t be more pleased!
Are you interested in getting into the healthcare industry? If so, maybe a career as a Community Health Worker fits with what you want. If the health industry isn’t your thing, have you thought of a career in the fast-paced world of Culinary Arts? Job training programs at CEWD with The Northeast Resiliency Consortium has you covered!
Our low cost (only $100) job training programs will also give you robust employment readiness services, job placement assistance, help with the college enrollment process, personal support services and so much more! There are only TWO application sessions remaining before classes begin. Visit our application session page to learn about our programs and begin your application process. Your future awaits!
We’re excited to introduce KCC Urban Farm’s new Farm Manager, Cris Izaguirre!
rooting for her all the way.”
