Community Engagement

Announcing the Kristof Impact Initiative Grant Recipients!

Corinne Molz

Corinne Molz

Corinne brings experience to her role of Communications Coordinator from her background in event planning, international development undergraduate degree, and her passion for the foodservice job training social enterprise model. Her career goals are devoted to lifting others out of the cycle of poverty through economic empowerment through employment/workforce development. She previously served FareStart as a Catering Captain, Catalyst Kitchens as Program Associate, and currently manages all of Catalyst Kitchens communications efforts through email marketing campaigns, website development, written materials, social media, physical promotional materials, and internal communications. 

FareStart's Catalyst Kitchens members have produced millions of meals for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis, calling for increased resources and funding to support these efforts. Through the generous support of the Kristof Impact Initiative and long-time funder Focusing Philanthropy, we are excited to announce that we are regranting over 1 million dollars to 36 member organizations to support their hunger relief efforts.

Welcome to Four New Members with the Jacques Pepin Foundation

Corinne Molz

Corinne Molz

Corinne brings experience to her role of Communications Coordinator from her background in event planning, international development undergraduate degree, and her passion for the foodservice job training social enterprise model. Her career goals are devoted to lifting others out of the cycle of poverty through economic empowerment through employment/workforce development. She previously served FareStart as a Catering Captain, Catalyst Kitchens as Program Associate, and currently manages all of Catalyst Kitchens communications efforts through email marketing campaigns, website development, written materials, social media, physical promotional materials, and internal communications. 

We have a passion for food here at Catalyst Kitchens. We love its many dimensions – how it brings people together around the same table to share a meal, that it invokes creativity and curiosity in chefs new and old, and can open doors for many to a meaningful career preparing delicious food for others. In partnership with the Jacques Pepin Foundation, we welcome four new Catalyst Kitchens members through the JPF scholarship program to support their COVID-19 response efforts.

A New Initiative for Youth Apprenticeship Models with Jobs for the Future

Emily Olsen-Harbich

Emily Olsen-Harbich

Emily is interested in challenging traditional community development norms to solve complex social issues at scale. She's worked at the grassroots level as a community extension agent in Peace Corps Cameroon and managed cross-sector initiatives while working in management consulting for a Washington, DC based firm. Emily's experience creating compelling communications tools, including an award winning documentary film, help her to support and enhance the inspiring work of Catalyst Kitchens members around the country.

This apprentice model is on the rise among our network and is particularly effective for youth to gain valuable work experience in a safe learning environment. In partnership with Jobs for the Future, three Catalyst Kitchens youth member programs have been selected for the Modernization of Apprenticeship for Opportunity Youth Initiative to advance their apprenticeship programs with expert coaches and consultations.

#GiveTogetherNow Grants Members $175,000 for Their Clients and Displaced Staff

Corinne Molz

Corinne Molz

Corinne brings experience to her role of Communications Coordinator from her background in event planning, international development undergraduate degree, and her passion for the foodservice job training social enterprise model. Her career goals are devoted to lifting others out of the cycle of poverty through economic empowerment through employment/workforce development. She previously served FareStart as a Catering Captain, Catalyst Kitchens as Program Associate, and currently manages all of Catalyst Kitchens communications efforts through email marketing campaigns, website development, written materials, social media, physical promotional materials, and internal communications. 

The disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic is reverberating through our Catalyst Kitchens member network and the thousands of lives that utilize their services. Through crisis comes opportunities for communities to band together to take care of those in need during these unprecedented times. Through their #GiveTogetherNow campaign from the Stand Together Foundation and Family Independence Initiative, we received $175,000 in cash assistance for families most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FareStart’s Catalyst Kitchens Members Rising to the Occasion Nationwide

We may need to be socially distant, but we are not socially disconnected. Our members, their leadership, their volunteers, and their donors are on the front lines of this crisis to take care of the most vulnerable. And they never stop surprising us with the larger than life innovations they’re developing to take care of their communities.

Staying Connected with Students in a Virtual World

Corinne Molz

Corinne Molz

Corinne brings experience to her role of Communications Coordinator from her background in event planning, international development undergraduate degree, and her passion for the foodservice job training social enterprise model. Her career goals are devoted to lifting others out of the cycle of poverty through economic empowerment through employment/workforce development. She previously served FareStart as a Catering Captain, Catalyst Kitchens as Program Associate, and currently manages all of Catalyst Kitchens communications efforts through email marketing campaigns, website development, written materials, social media, physical promotional materials, and internal communications. 

The world is now online, whether we like it or not. As Catalyst Kitchens programs adapt to the digital world to practice safe social distancing, we’re seeking ways to continue to connect, learn, and move forward despite temporary closures. Find some new ways to conduct online meetings, classrooms, social services, and culinary instructional videos to keep students learning despite distance.

The CARES Act for Nonprofits & Social Enterprises

Corinne Molz

Corinne Molz

Corinne brings experience to her role of Communications Coordinator from her background in event planning, international development undergraduate degree, and her passion for the foodservice job training social enterprise model. Her career goals are devoted to lifting others out of the cycle of poverty through economic empowerment through employment/workforce development. She previously served FareStart as a Catering Captain, Catalyst Kitchens as Program Associate, and currently manages all of Catalyst Kitchens communications efforts through email marketing campaigns, website development, written materials, social media, physical promotional materials, and internal communications. 

The CARES Act passed in Congress on Friday provides $2 trillion in COVID-19 Disaster Relief funds to small businesses and nonprofits to recover losses experienced during business closures and higher demand for social support services.

The Catalyst Kitchens COVID-19 Response

Renee Martin

Renee Martin

Renée got her entrepreneurial experience in the (insanely) fast moving digital media sector where she launched and developed several startups. After that she pivoted to be a leadership consultant to nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. As Director, Renée oversees Catalyst Kitchens as a whole. She is responsible for social enterprise sustainability and program impact for both membership and consulting. 

Thank You: A message from Catalyst Kitchens Manager Director & VP of National Initiatives Renee Martin on the steadfast response efforts around the network and how we are working to be a resource to member programs.

10 Strategies to Pivot to Emergency Meals for Vulnerable Populations

Renee Martin

Renee Martin

Renée got her entrepreneurial experience in the (insanely) fast moving digital media sector where she launched and developed several startups. After that she pivoted to be a leadership consultant to nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. As Director, Renée oversees Catalyst Kitchens as a whole. She is responsible for social enterprise sustainability and program impact for both membership and consulting. 

FareStart has been on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in Seattle, supporting the local pivot to increase capacity to serve up to 10,000 meals at FareStart daily for vulnerable populations. Catalyst Kitchens has captured the following best practices to share with our network.

 

  1. Establish daily check ins among leadership and teams. Since your day-to-day reality has changed drastically, it is necessary to connect daily to stay on track and respond to up to the minute needs.

 

We’re All in This Together: Supporting Your Community & Catalyst Kitchens Member Relief Efforts  

Corinne Molz

Corinne Molz

Corinne brings experience to her role of Communications Coordinator from her background in event planning, international development undergraduate degree, and her passion for the foodservice job training social enterprise model. Her career goals are devoted to lifting others out of the cycle of poverty through economic empowerment through employment/workforce development. She previously served FareStart as a Catering Captain, Catalyst Kitchens as Program Associate, and currently manages all of Catalyst Kitchens communications efforts through email marketing campaigns, website development, written materials, social media, physical promotional materials, and internal communications. 

Our realities have changed seemingly overnight. While we practice social distancing, it is easy to lose sight of how this outbreak is affecting our community outside of our homes.  Catalyst Kitchens members are on the front lines of relief efforts for those directly affected by this crisis, including low-income & food insecure populations. Here are some ways you can support those most affected by the outbreak. 

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