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- Erica Raggett (Owner) and Kaylen Simpson (Executive Chef)
A 2nd Cup serves coffee with a mission to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Kaylen Simpson is the executive chef.
She helps with an aftercare training program that teaches trafficking survivors culinary skills to transition into a career in the food industry.
"There has been a lot of abuse associated with the food service industry, so getting the food service industry involved in something it's had its hand in is really exciting to me; so kind of combating it at different ways," Simpson says.
Simpson says the program involves a three tiered approach starting with employee skills like writing a resume and interviewing. The next tier is more hands on.
"And the next part will be focused on culinary skills really specific, from knife cuts, to food costing, to basic cutting skills, catering and things like that," Simpson says.
The last tier will allow survivors to get externships with local restaurants.
Simpson says learning about food services provides people with a wide skill set and more opportunities in a large city like Houston.