Episode 36: Hayes Valley Bakeworks

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Staff, and trainees working on their first solo galettes, learning how to make quiche, Bakeworks pastry selections along with the Meals to work

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“All of us take these things for granted that they're always there”

In this episode our featured voices are Mark Bailey the head of operations and Martha Martinez the head of production and training at Hayes Valley Bakeworks. We wanted to share the story of Hayes Valley Bakeworks because of its unique self-supporting social enterprise model to provide a workforce training program in the culinary arts. Hayes Valley Bakeworks trains people with disabilities, formerly homeless people and people who are at risk. Hayes Valley Bakeworks was created by Toolworks which is the parent social enterprise that is a self-supporting nonprofit agency. Toolworks is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities and operates two other workforce training programs through providing janitorial services and recycling services for businesses

Mark Bailey

Mark oversees the business operations including the integration of training and employment of individuals with disabilities at Bakeworks. Mark has over 15 years of experience in restaurant management and production, including 10 years in a social enterprise environment. Before joining Bakeworks, Mark headed the cafe program of Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in New York City which provided job training for individuals with HIV/AIDS. You can reach Mark at: mark@bakeworkssf.com

Martha Martinez

Martha is the head of production and training at Bakeworks. A graduate of the City College culinary program, she has long had a passion for teaching and baking. She first joined Bakeworks as a volunteer but was quickly hired to head the pastry program at Bakeworks because of a light hand with pastry and her patience and enthusiasm for working with trainees and employees with disabilities. You can reach Martha at: martha@bakeworkssf.com

Hayes Valley Bakeworks

Made Better! Hayes Valley Bakeworks is baking up solutions to homelessness while serving up delicious pastries and noshes. Our San Francisco bakery and cafe provides training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness. Located in Hayes Valley, we bake everything from scratch, every day.

Bakeworks operates as a non-profit “social enterprise” that showcases the kind of creative approach to meeting the needs of disadvantaged individuals that San Francisco does best, while enjoying the quality food that San Francisco is famous for.

Bakeworks is the brainchild of Toolworks, a dynamic non-profit organization connecting ability to opportunity. Toolworks partners with the bakery to create a supportive environment for our participants who learn all facets of the food service business. Our local producers and suppliers also take part in our training program, offering career advice and sharing their passion for the food industry.
Hayes Valley Bakeworks operates with a mixture of staff who are hired for their industry expertise and individuals with disabilities and those who are homeless or at-risk working or training alongside them as they gain skills. Since it opened its doors eight years ago, Bakeworks has provided employment and training opportunities to countless marginalized individuals. Bakeworks has garnered much positive press (both for its menu offerings as well as its social purpose) and was the recipient of a small business award from Mayor Ed Lee.

Food made better. Lives made better.

For general info: info@bakeworkssf.com and follow Bakeworks on Facebook

Support this Small Business

You can support Hayes Valley Bakeworks culinary arts training program for people with disabilities and at risk by purchasing their wonderful bake goods on line https://bakeworkssf.square.site/

Videos

To find out more about Hayes Valley Bakeworks check out our videos:

Video embed from Facebook

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“COVID has affected all small businesses, especially , you know, social enterprises and nonprofits, you know, we’re really dependent , on people supporting us at this point in time.”

— Mark Bailey, Head of Operations, Hayes Valley Bakeworks

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