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On The Record

Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates: A recipe for success

By Sheilah Kast,
Melissa Gerr
Published October 9, 2024 at 10:12 AM EDT
Taecharne White puts finishing touches on salmon as part of a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Taecharne White puts finishing touches on salmon as part of a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Sheila S. does dish duty at Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Sheila S. does dish duty at Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Chef April Dubose works with a culinary student. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Chef April Dubose works with a culinary student. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Chef April Dubose gives instruction during a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class.
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Chef April Dubose gives instruction during a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class.
Amber Hall whips cream at the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Amber Hall whips cream at the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Fish prep during a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Fish prep during a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Chef Tempest works with a culinary student. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Chef Tempest works with a culinary student. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy's 11th cohort in full swing in the kitchen. The 13-week intensive fosters skills and confidence building for trainees. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy's 11th cohort in full swing in the kitchen. The 13-week intensive fosters skills and confidence building for trainees. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Culinary student Harry Lowe preps the garnish for a meal. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Culinary student Harry Lowe preps the garnish for a meal. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Student Harry Lowe (L) and Chef April Dubose discuss details during meal prep. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Student Harry Lowe (L) and Chef April Dubose discuss details during meal prep. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Justin Williams gets the details down from a recipe. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Justin Williams gets the details down from a recipe. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Chef April Dubose (second from left) instructs culinary students at the stove in the Franciscan Center kitchen as part of Dignity Plates Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Chef April Dubose (second from left) instructs culinary students at the stove in the Franciscan Center kitchen as part of Dignity Plates Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Lea Bell puts breads in the oven during meal prep. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Lea Bell puts breads in the oven during meal prep. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Linda Hazelwood checks on Brussels sprouts during meal prep. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Linda Hazelwood checks on Brussels sprouts during meal prep. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Chef April Dubose gives instruction to a culinary student. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Chef April Dubose gives instruction to a culinary student. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Students Harry Lowe (L) and Taecharne White load fish cakes into the oven at the Franciscan Center Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Students Harry Lowe (L) and Taecharne White load
Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy student Justin Williams tosses chick peas for a side dish. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Student Nicola Braxton oversees the stove during a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Student Nicola Braxton oversees the stove during a Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy class. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Shakera Murphy is a student in the Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy cohort 11. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Shakera Murphy is a student in the Franciscan Center's Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy cohort 11. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Kimberly Wynn preps fish for baking as part of the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Kimberly Wynn preps fish for baking as part of the Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Chef Tempest (L) works with student Detrich Jordan. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Chef Tempest (L) works with student Detrich Jordan. Photo: Melissa Gerr
Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy at the Franciscan Center offers skills development and confidence building to its participants. Photo: Melissa Gerr
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Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy at the Franciscan Center offers skills development and confidence building to its participants. Photo: Melissa Gerr

For 140 years Baltimore’s Franciscan Center has responded to community needs -- from food and clothing to counseling and dental care. Now they offer ‘Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy’ , which gives people skills and confidence that leads to employment and can transform lives. We talk with instructor Chef April Dubose, and with cohort 11 students Detrich Jordan, Shakera Murphy, Harry Lowe, Kimberly Wynn, Linda Hazelwood, and cohort 6 graduate Tiffany Jordan.

Links: Franciscan Center, Dignity Plates Culinary Training Academy.

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On The Record WYPR ProgramsOn the RecordFranciscan Center
Sheilah Kast
Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.
See stories by Sheilah Kast
Melissa Gerr
Melissa Gerr is a Senior Producer for On the Record. She started in public media at Twin Cities Public Television in St. Paul, Minn., where she is from, and then worked as a field producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland. She made the jump to audio-lover in Baltimore as a digital media editor at Mid-Atlantic Media and Laureate Education, Inc. and as a field producer for "Out of the Blocks." Her beat is typically the off-beat with an emphasis on science, culture and things that make you say, 'Wait, what?'
See stories by Melissa Gerr