Cody - From Trainee to Trainer

Before HopeWorks, I wasn’t doing so well. I was struggling with homelessness and addiction, and after a short stint in jail, I moved into the Snohomish County Diversion Center, a short-term placement for people experiencing homelessness with substance use disorder. That’s where I first crossed paths with HopeWorks. After a month of jail food, I learned that

breakfast and lunch at the diversion center also came from the jail. So, when meals from Kindred Kitchen started arriving, I was overjoyed. It’s amazing what a good meal can do to brighten your spirit. Not long after, I found a clean and sober house and began my path to recovery.

Still, even a few months in, I felt lost. I knew I wanted a better life, but I wasn’t sure how to start building it.

One day, my roommate told me about a culinary training program he had gone through—and that he even got paid to do it. It sounded great. A few weeks later, while I was on the computer, he asked if I’d filled out the application yet. I hadn’t. With his encouragement, I filled it out right then and there. A few weeks later, I was sitting in orientation with a small group of trainees. We soon learned that the funding for paid training had fallen through, but even so, we all stuck with it. Each of us came from different walks of life, yet we shared a common purpose: to use this opportunity to rebuild our independence and create a better future.

The program gave me more than just culinary skills. It gave me confidence and reminded me that I could be a contributing member of society again. The staff challenged us to figure things out while providing the support we needed to succeed. My trainer Nick, for example, helped me step out of my comfort zone: when I told him I wanted more confidence in the kitchen, he simply said, “Okay, go make lunch.” Later, toward the end of the program, a friend encouraged me to apply for the open trainer position. With some extra courage (and a nudge from her persistence), I did.

Today, I am proud to be the new Technical Education Trainer for the Culinary Program.

What I’ve learned from all of this is that we have to put in the energy and effort to accomplish our goals. No one else can do it for us. But, there are moments in life when support, encouragement, and a helping hand are essential for growth. HopeWorks has done that for me. And now, I am eager to be that same supportive, helping hand for others—to help them find their confidence and push forward toward their own goals.