Immigrants and refugees boost Utah's culinary workforce through training program

The RISE Culinary Institute in Salt Lake City is training immigrant and refugee women to enter Utah's restaurant workforce. The program, which began in 2023, has its second cohort graduating this Friday, featuring students from various countries. Fatima Rahman, an Afghan refugee, is among the graduates. She learned culinary skills and gained job placements through the program, which aims to address labor shortages in the restaurant industry by providing training and internships. The program includes lessons on food safety, preparation, and classical cooking techniques. Future plans involve expanding the curriculum to include financial literacy and immigration law classes. Applications for the next cohort open in January.