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Good Food

Tender Greens Trains Foster Kids for Restaurant Jobs

Tender Greens began as a fast casual restaurant in Culver City. In just a few years it's grown to twelve locations from San Diego to San Francisco. Instead of donating money to a charity, the restaurant group has launched the Sustainability Life Project .

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By Evan Kleiman • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Tender Greens began as a fast casual restaurant in Culver City. In just a few years it's grown to twelve locations from San Diego to San Francisco. Instead of donating money to a charity, the restaurant group has launched the Sustainability Life Project. It's essentially a three-month unpaid internship for at-risk kids who may not have held a job before. Students work in the restaurant eight hours a week, and get trained in everything from using a knife to sourcing ingredients. If they stick with it, Tender Greens guarantees them a job.

Evan George tags along with two Sustainable Life Project students on a field trip to Lefty Ayer's pig ranch, where the restaurant sources its pork. He shares the story of Joshua Saurbier who graduates from the program this week.

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    Evan Kleiman

    host 'Good Food'

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    Gillian Ferguson

    Supervising Producer, Good Food

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    Laryl Garcia

    Senior Director, Good Food

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    Sarah Rogozen

    Associate Producer, Good Food

    CultureFood & Drink
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