Several of TASK’s staff were privileged to take part in the Catalyst Kitchens National Summit in Pittsburgh.

Catalyst Kitchens is a member-driven initiative that brings together nonprofits and social enterprises in the shared goal of training individuals with barriers for employment in the foodservice industry. More than five years ago, TASK became affiliated with Catalyst Kitchens as we launched Emilio’s Culinary Academy, and the network has been invaluable to our development of the program and its curriculum.

The conference, which was attended by dozens of like-minded nonprofits from across the country, and co-hosted by Community Kitchen of Pittsburgh, gave TASK the opportunity to learn and to share. TASK CEO Amy Flynn and COO Paul Jensen served as panelists throughout the three-day conference, and additional TASK staff attended sessions on program development, trends in workforce readiness training, fundraising and more.

The highlight of the conference was the Jacques Pepin 90/90 gala, where TASK Director of Culinary Services Adam Livow was honored as an Emerging Catalyst in the 2024 Catalyst for Change Award. Chef Livow’s take on a Pittsburgh Salad kicked off an evening of delicious fare with a local flourish, honoring Jacque’s milestone 90th birthday and raising funds for the Jacques Pepin Foundation, which supports culinary education students and training programs like ours.

It was a memorable and educational week that left us inspired and excited for the future!