Our Mission
The El Cajon Project helps at-risk and disadvantaged high school students
to graduate from high school and become productive members of our communities
through an innovative culinary arts training program that offers school
credit through a rigorous, hands-on learning environment at exclusive four
and five-star restaurants, including Spago Palo Alto and others. This unique
vocational education initiative establishes multi-faceted relationships
among youths, families, schools, business and dedicated individuals that
strive to improve youths’ confidence and self-esteem while fostering
personal growth and development.
What Is The El Cajon Project?
• IT IS a vocational training program created to serve at-risk youth, 16 to 19 years of age
• IT IS a unique partnering of youth, parents, high schools, businesses and a dedicated community
• IT IS youth demonstrating a willingness to rededicate themselves to laying the foundation for a successful life
• IT IS parents supporting their teenagers, helping them gain the confidence they will need to pursue success in life
• IT IS high schools having the flexibility to support a non-traditional method of education with academic credits and introduction of career path course work they could not ordinarily consider because of the prohibitive cost
• IT IS businesses opening their doors, donating their time and expertise and providing a hands-on learning environment
• IT IS the opportunity for at-risk students to make the most of Workability, a statewide job placement program
• IT IS a dedicated community supporting a viable solution to the problem of untrained and uneducated youth
• IT IS an innovative, community-based program for at-risk youth.