Delivered to you by 2Fish Community Café

Programs & Services

Culinary Training for Youth

The Filet of Soul Culinary Institute program for youth targets economically disadvantaged young people between the ages of 14-24 in West Chester and Coatesville. Students receive culinary training, paid work experience, ServSafe certification, soft skills education, transportation (if needed), resume building and job placement. The accommodation and food service industry provides a greater number of jobs (than any other industry) to youth ages 14-21 and this training provides a major opportunity for students to take advantage of this trend. The youth currently receive this training while participating in the Charitable Meal Preparation and Delivery Program and Catering events and will do so while working in the Community Café.

Culinary Training for Adults

The Filet of Soul Culinary Institute program for adults targets individuals with barriers to employment including returning citizens (ex-offenders), single parents, seniors and individuals with disabilities. This program offers free culinary training, ServSafe certification, worker advocacy services and resource linking, paid work experience opportunities, transportation, and child care. There will be a targeted focus on women who have experienced trauma, such as domestic abuse, drug addiction and incarceration. These participants will receive this training while participating in the Charitable Meal Preparation and Delivery Program, and catering events and while working in the Community Café.

Health and Wellness

Programs include a free CHEC-Point Clinic operated by Chester County Hospital personnel and volunteer nurses from West Chester University. Additional free healthy meal programs include 21-21-21, a twenty-one day sliding scale exercise, nutrition, and meal program addressing health disparities which commonly affect marginalized populations. The program focuses on weight loss, heart health and diabetes prevention through guided exercise, nutrition counseling and healthy meals.

Charitable Meal Preparation & Delivery

In the midst of the global crisis, Filet of Soul Culinary Institute stepped up and reached out to help the most vulnerable populations, while training and employing economically disadvantaged youth and adults, as well as individuals who have lost employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the onset of the pandemic, the team has distributed over 26,000 charitable meals to Low Income Individuals in West Chester and Coatesville. This program is funded by grants from the Department of Environmental Protection, Brandywine Health Foundation, Pennsylvania Housing and Finance, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. To date, Filet of Soul and 2Fish have served low-income populations through the following organizations/entities: the West Chester Mayor's office, the West Chester Area Senior Center, Denney Reyburn Apartments, Church Street Towers, Brandywine Center, CYWA, Coatesville Towers, and the Bridge Academy and Community Center. Two Fish also partners with local organizations to provide disaster relief and most recently worked with the following organization to provide meals for Coatesville residents impacted by Hurricane Ida: Brandywine Health Foundation, New Life in Christ Fellowship, CYWA, Atkinson Men’s Shelter, Tabernacle Baptist Church, and Brandywine Valley Active Aging. The Charitable Meal Program will expand to offer additional on- and off-site meal distribution days.

Community Advocacy

This program provides advocacy for Chester County residents with barriers while partnering with social service agencies to provide resources such as assistance in obtaining housing, job training, transportation, childcare, legal counsel, educational resources, medical services, and spiritual care.

Personal Development Workshops

The Life Manual is a faith-based workshop on identity, purpose, and significance. Participants are guided through the development and formulation of a personal vision and mission statement, where they identify their strengths and weaknesses in order to find their God-given purpose and calling to live their best life. The Foundations and Seven Spheres of Life courses work with individuals to assess their needs and trained life coaches will work with the participants to create tangible, attainable goals and action steps to aid in their emotional, social/relational, spiritual, mental, environmental, financial and physical health. After receiving an ILP (Individualized Life Plan), the individual can access weekly group therapy sessions and semester based classes for mental and physical health.

Financial Literacy

Financial Peace University is a nine-lesson course that teaches you how to save for emergencies, pay off debt fast, spend wisely, and invest for your future. And no complicated financial blah blah blah over here. For over 25 years, Dave Ramsey’s been teaching commonsense, biblical money principles that work. Every time.

2Fish MERCI Program

2Fish Community Café in partnership with the Movement Community Development Corporation has created the 2Fish Mobilizing and Empowering Returning Citizens Initiative (MERCI)

Are you (or a family member or friend) formerly incarcerated and ready to make a positive change and take the necessary steps to not just survive, but to thrive?

The MERCI program will provide mental health services, life coaching, resource linking, training, and employment for formerly incarcerated persons. At no cost to participants, this program will:

Work directly with the participants to ensure that they successfully complete life development workshops, financial literacy classes and therapy sessions.
Guide participants in accessing all resources necessary to thrive such as help with resume writing and interviews, transportation, and help with childcare.
Interface with employers, local providers, and community members to garner support, opportunities, an-d resources for participants.
Any questions? Please call 484-630-0042.

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