PHILADELPHIA, PA — Aramark is expanding its IN2WORK (I2W) reentry program with a new culinary training track designed to help formerly incarcerated individuals build careers in the food service industry. The company also launched IN2WORK.org, an online platform providing continued support, education, and job resources for program graduates after release.
“IN2WORK is integral to our mission, and our team is always looking for ways to help returning citizens have a successful career path,” said Tim Barttrum, President and CEO of Aramark Correctional Services. “Adding a culinary track to our I2W program—which already has food service and warehousing paths—just made sense as hospitality partners.”
The new curriculum, to be piloted in partnership with the Kansas Department of Corrections, features three progressive modules—Food Safety & Sanitation, Nutrition 101, and Introduction to Culinary Arts. Graduates who complete all phases can earn the Certified Fundamental Cook (CFC) credential from the American Culinary Federation, a nationally recognized certification endorsed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
“We’re proud to be the first to pilot the new culinary track of the IN2WORK program here in Kansas,” said Jeff Zmuda, Secretary of Corrections for the Kansas Department of Corrections. “Over the past two years, 224 KDOC residents have graduated from IN2WORK, and we’ve seen firsthand how education, combined with hands-on training and industry-recognized certifications, creates a powerful recipe for successful reentry.”
The expansion builds on the success of I2W’s existing training paths in food service and warehousing, which have produced more than 16,000 graduates nationwide. According to Aramark, 325 interns are currently participating in the program, and 564 graduates have been hired following release.
In addition to the new culinary program, Aramark introduced IN2WORK.org—a digital hub offering scholarship information, job listings, and a “Workforce Navigator” with resources on financial literacy, digital skills, and employability. The site also connects graduates with partner organizations that support continued education and job placement.
“Our mission to help justice-impacted citizens does not end with the I2W program,” said Nicole McVaugh, Director of IN2WORK. “As a second chance employer who works with other fair opportunity businesses, we wanted to create an accessible tool that helps our graduates, post-release, find the success they need to support themselves and their loved ones.”
Through its growing IN2WORK initiative, Aramark continues to invest in reentry and workforce development programs aimed at reducing recidivism and building pathways to meaningful employment in hospitality and food service industries.
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