Foodlink hosted approximately a dozen RCSD seniors on Thursday, March 24, for Job Shadow Day — a day for Rochester students to gain insights and explore various career paths at organizations around Rochester.

The initiative stems out of the RCSD’s Career and Technical Education department, which teaches specific career skills to students in high school split into 16 career clusters that apply to different high-demand careers. More than 200 students took part in Job Shadow Day this year, spread across dozens of local organizations and businesses.

At Foodlink, the students took a tour of the facility and learned about the various programs and services that Foodlink operates, and got an in-depth look inside the Foodlink Community Kitchen and its culinary training program, the Foodlink Career Fellowship.

The students and chaperones then were treated to lunch (cooked and served by the Fellowship’s Class of 2022 & 2023), and listened to various Foodlink staff members from different departments talk about the work they do to help fulfill Foodlink’s mission.

“Our goal is to help students discover their passion, and see a potential opportunity here in Rochester,” said Sheldon Cox, Director of the Career and Technical Education Department for the Rochester City School District.  “These career options and explorations are an opportunity for students to learn more.”