TALLAHASSEE, Fla (WTXL) - In January, WTXL introduced you to Rebeccas Kelly Manders, a chef giving convicted felons a shot at redemption by teaching them valuable kitchen skills so that they can find a job.
WTXL's Jada Williams was live Friday morning to share why she and her students are fired up about their next step.
Previously, Rebecca Kelly Manders taught her students out of a cafeteria-style setting, but Friday night the team will embark on a new journey starting with Yes Chef Cafe.
The kitchen may be small, but Yes Chef Cafe is leaving a sense of ease and accomplishment for its employees.
Quinten Storey, an employee, said: "It's been wonderful. A great learning experince for me to grow and develop."
The small restaurant inside The Breezeway Market at Railroad Square Art Park is serving up fresh handmade wraps, sandwhiches, soups and salads, but Yes Chef isn't your typical stop and go restaurant.
"We're different from a regular sandwhich shop," Manders said, "because you know when you buy food from us, that money is going towards really good work."
That good work is the ReFire Culinary Program. It gives ex cons a chance to learn kitchen skills, and with the restaurant, that experience comes tuition free.
The shot at redemption is something Quinten Storey says he never thought would be possible.
"It's excellent to have someone in my corner," Storey said. "That's the best thing you can have in life is someone in your corner to say 'I accept you anyway and I still care about you, no matter what happened.'"
Thanks to ReFire and Yes Chef, Storey says he feel invincible.
"I'm ready for what's coming," Storey said. "I'm sure we can handle it. We've been trained well and I'm ready."
The Grand Opening is at First Friday. You can find Yes CHef in the Breezeway.
