Our 10-week culinary program inside Los Guilicos Juvenile Hall gives youth real time in the kitchen — learning how to cook, work as a team, and take pride in what they create. Youth take on complex recipes that challenge their palates and introduce them to foods and meals many have never experienced before, expanding both skill and curiosity. Along the way, they earn their ServSafe certification and build relationships with professional chefs and local mentors from across Sonoma County.

Each class ends the same way: we sit down together for a family meal. Breaking bread at the table connects us, builds trust, and turns a group of individuals into a team. Offered up to four times a year and reaching up to 48 youth annually, the program helps youth leave custody with more than skills — they leave with confidence, job connections, paid work opportunities, and people who continue showing up after release.