Meet the Team Behind: Emma’s Torch

Emma’s Torch offers culinary apprenticeships and employment training for refugees seeking careers in the food industry. With sites in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Washington, DC, Emma’s Torch is empowering refugees, preparing them for employment, and celebrating their cultural heritage. Learn more here! 

Can you tell me about the need for your work? 

For refugees coming to America, one of the hardest parts of the transition can be finding a new job. Jobs are a chance to meet new people, practice language skills, and find a sense of purpose, which are all necessary after a move to a new country. We provide refugees with in-depth culinary training and the skills needed for long-term employment, setting them up for success in an industry where their cultural heritage and cuisine can be celebrated. It’s our goal to create a country where survivors of forced migration are welcomed as drivers of the economy and enhancers of our communities. 

What does your training entail? 

Through our culinary training program, we equip refugees with the skills and confidence to create meaningful careers in the food industry. Our 11-week, paid apprenticeship program provides up to 440 hours of culinary training as well as employability, equity, and empowerment training. We offer the necessary on-the-job instruction in conjunction with workshops to ensure long-term success in the American workplace. Our program is free and students are paid a full time wage, allowing more people to take advantage of the opportunity. 

What kind of lessons do students learn? 

We offer an introduction to the professional American kitchen, knife skills, communication skills, key culinary techniques, sanitation and safety lessons, and how to follow recipes and prepare food. When students are moved into our cafes in Brooklyn, Washington DC, or Inwood, they develop a versatile skill set in the back and front of the house, working every station and learning how to prepare dishes on a large scale for the catering business. Throughout the program, students have weekly English classes focused on culinary vocabulary and interview preparation, mock interviews, trials with leading restaurants, and evaluations to track progress. 

Can you tell me about your students? 

We partner with some of the largest refugee resettlement and advocacy organizations in the world, who help us identify refugees and survivors of human trafficking who would be a good fit for our program. Since our founding 8 years ago, we’ve had over 500 students from 65 countries. Our students are as young as 18 and as old as 65, and 92% of our 2024 students graduated the program. Graduates of our 2024 program increased their projected annual income by 5x, and 82% of them have retained jobs in the culinary industry for at least 6 months. Looking ahead, we are looking to scale our impact and grow our catering business to reach as many refugees as we can.