WHAT'S COOKING AT STEP

Creating Future Culinary Arts Employees

BY GRETCHEN STILL

Services To Enhance Potential (STEP) is a nonprofit organization which provides support and services to nearly 1,400 persons with disabilities and other mental health needs in Macomb and Wayne Counties. A major goal of Services To Enhance Potential is to increase the number of persons who are employed, self-employed, and volunteer in their communities. STEP provides and supports a variety of employment and self-employment options. We were founded in 1972 to bring an employment focus to individuals with a disability and have developed a strong reputation in the community for doing so. This month we are showcasing our What’s Cooking at STEP culinary arts program.

STEP’s culinary arts program, What’s Cooking at STEP, helps prepare members for careers in the food service industry by learning food safety, customer service, and preparing delicious dishes. These classes allow members with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or mental health needs to explore the art of cooking in a community-based setting. To provide an authentic learning environment, meals are prepared with the assistance of our skilled instructors. Our talented members prepare delicious and gourmet appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, and desserts. Our kitchen includes adaptive cooking utensils where all abilities are welcomed. Members participate in the program to learn culinary skills and healthy eating habits. These skills often lead to employment in the culinary field or help empower members to achieve an independent lifestyle. Our culinary arts classes allow STEP members to pursue their passions of food preparation, advance in their abilities, and achieve their chosen goal. In addition to learning culinary skills, members learn about expiration dates, food waste, prioritizing pantry items, composting and how to grow your own food.

For more information about the programs that STEP offers, please visit www.stepcentral.org.