Top Chefs To Speak On Inclusive Hiring At Orpheum Event

Does inclusive hiring and business success go hand in hand? According to Andrew Chadwick, executive chef of Chatham Bars Inn, the answer is a resounding yes. 

On Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 at the Chatham Orpheum Theater, Chadwick, along with Chef Franklin Becker and Cook Joseph Valentino of Point Seven restaurant in Manhattan, will share stories about how they have created opportunities and changed lives in the hospitality industry through inclusive employment.

 Chef Becker is the founder of Chefs on the Spectrum, a new initiative of Autism Speaks, currently in the piloting stage. The program was recently featured on the Today Show and in The New York Times, among other news media. According to Geoff DeLizzo, chief development officer of Autism Speaks, the goal of the initiative is "to build pathways for autistic talent to enter, learn and thrive in professional kitchens through culinary training, mentorship and employment partnerships." 

 The career of Cook Joseph Valentino, who was diagnosed with autism at age 5, was the inspiration for Chefs on the Spectrum, DeLizzo said. At age 27, "Valentino is a great chef on the line, but getting there was tremendously challenging for him. We need to do more to support adults looking for these kinds of opportunities." He added that they hoped to add Chatham Bars Inn to the pilot program, which is expected to be rolled out next spring.

 For nearly a decade, CBI has collaborated with the Riverview School, an independent coeducational boarding and day school for diverse learners in Sandwich. Students with learning disorders work in a host of areas including housekeeping, spa services and food and beverage areas throughout the inn. Starting last year, CBI expanded its program to include opportunities at their Brewster farm for alumni of the school and other neurodivergent adults.

 David Summers, managing director of Riverview's adult community Friends Together, will also be on the panel. He noted that the partnership with CBI is significant in a number of ways. 

"For Riverview students, paid vocational experiences are an important part of preparing for adult employment,” he said. “For our Friends Together adult members, they are part of the workforce, contributing to the operation of the farm, earning wages and experiencing the responsibilities and rewards that come with having a job."

 The benefits extend well beyond the employees themselves, Summers said. "The Cape has a workforce shortage and we believe that neurodiverse adults represent a largely untapped source of talent for local businesses. There are many capable, motivated adults who want to work and have a great deal to contribute but who haven't always had access to the opportunities or support needed to succeed."

 Kim Shambrook of Autism Speaks, who is the director of the Chefs on the Spectrum national program, will also participate on the panel. Moderator of the event will be Rachel Kaprielian, CEO of Triangle Inc, which empowers people with disabilities through workforce development and career services.

 The program, which was organized by documentary filmmaker and photographer Kim Roderiques, is set for Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Orpheum. Tickets are available at www.chathamorpheum.org and are $40. All proceeds benefit Autism Speaks and the Riverview School.