When Luzmary Gomez was 17, she found herself thousands of miles away from her hometown, her extended family and her friends. She fled the political unrest and violence in Venezuela with her mother and younger siblings for a chance at a better life. Luzmary arrived in Orlando unable to speak English and with limited skills in foodservice but was determined to overcome any … [Read more...] about Luzmary’s Story: “Dreams do come true.”
Students
Sofi’s Story: “I feel like I can do anything.”
Originally from Haiti, Sofi left her home in pursuit of opportunity. She knew she had a deep passion for food and cooking. If she was given a chance to succeed, she knew she would take it. She and her husband moved to Orlando where he quickly found work as a dishwasher and she began working part-time at a theme park restaurant. The move proved to be an instant improvement for … [Read more...] about Sofi’s Story: “I feel like I can do anything.”
Rachel’s Story: “The sky is the limit.”
Rachel’s husband was controlling and demeaning. She had a job that she dreaded. Her family lived several states away and she had new grandbabies she hadn’t met yet. “I was miserable,” Rachel recalls. When her marriage ended, Rachel took the opportunity to start fresh. She moved to Florida to be closer to family and began to dream about this second chance at a happier … [Read more...] about Rachel’s Story: “The sky is the limit.”
Rachelle’s Story: “Everything is falling into place.”
Rachelle has always been devoted to her family. She and her husband married right after high school and started a family. She stayed at home while he worked to support their family of seven. She always wanted to go back to school or find a career of her own, but life had a way of always throwing curveballs. “I pressed pause on my life to be there for my kids,” Rachelle … [Read more...] about Rachelle’s Story: “Everything is falling into place.”
Nina’s Story: “I appreciate you with all of my heart.”
Nina has always loved to cook. As a stay at home mom, she prepared scratch-cooked meals for her family. Her husband had a good, steady job in maintenance for an apartment complex but sometimes it was not enough. She visited a food pantry to help keep food on the table. As her daughters grew up, Nina started to find work outside of the house, mostly cleaning houses. She used … [Read more...] about Nina’s Story: “I appreciate you with all of my heart.”
