Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is expanding its efforts to address a root cause of hunger with the launch of Career Pathways, an enhanced workforce training program designed to better prepare and connect more job seekers with in-demand careers, reducing the number of people who need food assistance.
Building on its long-running Culinary Training Program, Career Pathways now offers a second track in customer service, expanding employment access across industries. Participants gain career-readiness skills, job connection assistance and coaching for one year after completing the program. Since 2013, the Culinary Training Program has helped over 535 adults start food service careers.
The newly structured program prepares participants for employment through skills training, career readiness support, and direct connections with local employers. Each cohort includes foundational workplace skills such as time management, teamwork and communication, financial literacy and conflict resolution. The culinary track will continue to offer hands-on, specialized training in a commercial kitchen.
“Career Pathways reflects how we’re evolving to meet both our neighbors’ needs and the realities of today’s shifting job market,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO at Second Harvest. “Not every job seeker is pursuing a career in culinary, but everyone deserves access to meaningful work. By expanding beyond a single industry, we can meet people where they are and connect more individuals to quality employment opportunities while helping them build the skills and confidence needed for long-term stability.”
A 2025 community survey of over 250 job seekers found 52% had trouble finding jobs despite applying, revealing a gap between available roles and applicants’ skills. Challenges include AI-based hiring, stricter requirements, and limited jobs with growth prospects. Insights are in the 2025 Workforce Report.
The report, along with feedback from local employer partners, directly informed the evolution of Second Harvest’s successful workforce development program into Career Pathways, a broader initiative that now includes a new customer service track.
“When we looked at in-demand careers in the local economy and heard from employers the types of positions they need to fill, it became clear that customer service is a pathway for job seekers to enter the workforce,” said Keonna Yearwood-Branch, director of culinary programs at Second Harvest. “If you have customer service skills and related competencies, you can build a career with the potential for growth.”
Keonna recently unveiled the Workforce Report and new Career Pathways program at the food bank’s first Workforce Partner Summit. The Summit included conversations on job seekers’ experiences, employer recruitment and retention challenges and opportunities to collaborate.
Keonna also shared insights from the report at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta as one of sixteen subject matter experts gathered from across the Southeast to discuss economic mobility and workforce development. During the panel discussion, Keonna shared research and community insights on workforce training programs in Central Florida, noting that many job seekers believe gaining access to training, certifications, and skill-building programs is key to securing higher-quality, more stable careers.
Career Pathways is free for eligible adults. Applications for Career Pathways are now open; the first customer service cohort begins on July 7 and runs for five weeks. The next culinary cohort begins on August 3 and runs for 10 weeks. For more information on eligibility, program offerings, or to apply, visit feedhopenow.org/careerpathways.
