About C-CAP

C-CAP alumni and Co-Chair Marcus Samuelsson talk about the impact that C-CAP has made in their lives

Our Mission

Long co-chaired by chef Marcus Samuelsson, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) is a workforce development nonprofit that provides underserved teens a pathway to success.

Annually, C-CAP provides culinary, job and life skills to over 22,000 middle-and-high school students across the entire state of Arizona, as well as in Baltimore, Camden, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City & Long Island, Newark, Philadelphia, suburban Maryland, and Washington DC.

Founded in 1990 by Richard Grausman, this 34 year-old nonprofit strives to help further food and social justice, as well as equity and inclusion by providing tools for success. Starting in middle schools, we provide culinary-and-wellness curriculum, and in high schools also provide an integrated approach to employment in the food sector via internships/apprenticeships, job shadows, mentorship, and work opportunities, college and career advising, and higher-education scholarships, along with product and food donations. The success of our alumni is proof of our methodology and the work we have done. To date, we have worked with 370,000 students and awarded $71 million in scholarships. C-CAP has transformed thousands of lives in a meaningful way. The urgency to help these diverse communities has never been more critical.

Our History

In 1990, cookbook author and educator Richard Grausman piloted a program in twelve New York City high schools to teach French cooking in Home Economics classes. His intention was to teach American youth about the satisfaction and value of home cooking. The schools were all inner-city high schools filled with underserved students. Grausman soon realized that too many of these students lacked job skills or college prospects. What they needed was preparation for jobs with a future, like those in the culinary industry.

To fulfill this need, Grausman created the nonprofit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). His goal was to enhance the culinary arts curriculum in public schools and better prepare underserved students for college and career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industry. C-CAP has operated continuously for over 30 years and has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people.

Richard Grausman with Julia Child
Richard Grausman with Julia Child

C-CAP was founded on my love for French cooking and my desire to help others. Little did I know that the combination would change the lives of so many young people. What pleases me most is to see our graduates, with successful careers, giving back in their own way.” - Richard Grausman