Stone Soup PDX: A Culinary Training Program Changing Lives—and Strengthening Oregon’s Hospitality Workforce

​In the fast-paced world of restaurants and hospitality, finding well-trained, motivated employees can be a challenge. At Stone Soup PDX, we’re addressing this need while also creating powerful opportunities for people who are often overlooked in the workforce.

Stone Soup PDX is a nonprofit culinary training program based in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to empower individuals facing employment barriers—such as housing instability, past incarceration, and recovery from addiction—through hands-on training in a supportive, real-world kitchen environment. We help participants build not only the technical skills they need to succeed in a foodservice career, but also the confidence, professionalism, and community connections that lead to long-term employment.

Since launching in 2018, we’ve trained over 200 participants and served more than 250,000 meals to our community. Our new café, which opened in Montavilla in June 2025, serves as a public-facing training ground where participants can apply their skills in baking, barista service, front-of-house operations, and café management. The café also provides an opportunity for neighbors to get to know our mission—one pastry or coffee at a time.

Why It Matters to ORLA Members
Our graduates are job-ready and eager to work. They’ve completed a rigorous 12-week training program that includes:

• Knife skills, food safety, line cooking, baking, and barista training
• Resume development, mock interviews, and job readiness coaching
• Real-world experience in a high-volume production kitchen and public café
• Soft skills training with an emphasis on reliability, communication, and teamwork

Every participant receives a weekly stipend, wraparound support from case managers, and individualized employment placement services. This investment pays off: over 75% of our graduates secure employment or paid internships upon graduation.

But here’s where you come in: We’re always looking to partner with local employers who are willing to give our graduates a shot.

What We Hear from Employers
Employers who have hired Stone Soup PDX graduates often comment on their strong work ethic, eagerness to learn, and ability to thrive in team settings. Many have experienced firsthand the benefits of hiring someone who’s deeply motivated to succeed and grateful for the opportunity.

One of our employer partners recently shared, “Hiring a Stone Soup graduate was one of the best staffing decisions we’ve made. They came in ready to work and eager to contribute. It’s clear they were set up for success.”

How to Get Involved
We’d love to connect with ORLA members interested in being part of this community-centered solution to Oregon’s hospitality workforce challenges. Here are a few ways to engage:

• Hire a Graduate: Our Support Services Coordinator will work with you to match your open positions with a graduate whose skills and goals align with your needs.
• Host a Paid Internship: Some graduates are ready to build additional experience through short-term, paid placements before moving into permanent roles.
• Visit Our Café: Come by our Montavilla location to see our training program in action—and grab a house-made pastry or lunch item while you're at it.
• Spread the Word: Share our mission with your networks. The more opportunities we can provide to our graduates, the stronger our whole hospitality community becomes.

If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to us at [email protected] or visit www.stonesouppdx.org.

Together, we can help people build careers—and help Oregon’s restaurants and lodging businesses find the dependable, skilled team members they need to thrive.

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Stone Soup PDX is a community-based organization helping build economic stability for people facing barriers to employment through hands-on culinary training and our community meals program.