YWCA Evanston Expands Culinary Training for Survivors
The local program helps participants gain skills and financial independence through hands-on culinary workforce training.
Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Cooking
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The YWCA in Evanston provides a free culinary workforce training program designed to help survivors of domestic violence and individuals facing employment barriers achieve financial independence. The program is now set to increase its annual trainee capacity from 16 to 24 participants.
Why it matters
By offering mentorship and certifications to those without prior experience, the training acts as a critical pathway to economic self-sufficiency. The initiative creates a support system that addresses both personal safety and professional development in the local community.
The intensive culinary training program lasts six months and requires no prior industry experience. Currently, the initiative supports 16 trainees annually but plans to increase this capacity to 24 participants.
The players
YWCA Evanston
This local organization provides free culinary workforce training, mentorship, and certificates to help individuals achieve financial independence.
Paige Dyer
She serves as the chef providing hands-on culinary instruction to participants within the YWCA program.
Marina Sauphin Hill
She is a program graduate who utilized her training to launch the catering business Taste of Liberia.
The details
Participants receive hands-on instruction from Chef Paige Dyer, who oversees the program as it operates out of a ghost kitchen for business development. Recent graduate Marina Sauphin Hill, who moved to the U.S. in 2018, leveraged these skills to launch her own catering venture, Taste of Liberia, which recently drew 70 attendees to its debut event.
Timeline
Marina Sauphin Hill moved to the United States in 2018.
Culture Shift
The program reflects the growing reliance on ghost kitchens as low-barrier business incubators for emerging culinary entrepreneurs. This shift allows trainees to focus on scaling operations without the immediate overhead of traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants.
Residents seeking a career change or new skills can apply for the free training, which requires no previous culinary experience. The expanded capacity of the program will allow for more local applicants to access professional mentorship each year.
The takeaway
This program demonstrates how targeted vocational training can empower survivors to transition into professional catering. Implementing such models helps foster community resilience by lowering the barrier to entry for small business ownership.
Further reading
For more information on local culinary initiatives, visit the Cooking section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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