Kings Who Cook: Certified, Confident, and Ready for the Workforce

This quarter, a cohort of young men at the Christopher A. Pugh II Center completed the Kings Who Cook program, and every single one of them walked away with more than a new skill; they earned their ServSafe certification, a nationally recognized credential in food safety.

Throughout the program, participants built real, practical culinary skills, including food preparation, knife techniques, plating, and kitchen safety, while also developing confidence and discipline in a hands-on learning environment. For many, it was their first time earning a professional credential of any kind.

The ServSafe certification means these young men now hold a real, industry-recognized qualification that opens doors in the food service industry, one of the most consistently hiring sectors in Memphis and beyond.

This cohort's completion is a reminder of what CPC's programming is built to do: pair genuine skill-building with tangible, credentialed outcomes, so participants leave not just more capable, but more employable.