Everyone Belongs At The Table.
Everyone Belongs At The Table.
Cohort 1 Graduation
December 2025
The gallery below captures a milestone worth celebrating. These photos reflect the hard work, growth, and determination that led to graduation day—along with the joy and pride shared by students, families, and our community. We’re honored to celebrate this accomplishment and all that comes next.
Nourish & Flourish Kitchen
Nourish & Flourish Kitchen prepares people experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities for work in the food industry. Designed to build confidence and independence, the curriculum-based program ensures student success through hands-on training alongside professional chefs.
- 16-week program, 3 cohorts per year
- Cohorts limited to six students
- Located in downtown Portland
- No cost to students who qualify
More details here.
For application information please contact Cedar Independence using the contact form below.
Nourish & Flourish Kitchen is a program of Germaine's Culinary Inc. and Cedar Independence.
Nourish and Flourish Kitchen empowers people experiencing Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to achieve self-reliance through careers in the food service industry. Through the hot meals program, Nourish & Flourish helps relieve hunger for those in need.
This video captures our first full-time cohort in action—cooking, engaging in the community, learning in the classroom, and sharing insights through interviews with our chefs.
Hear from the parents of Joshua, who graduated from Cohort One of Nourish & Flourish Kitchen. They reflect on Joshua's learning and growth through the course of the 16-week program.
Joshua gained skills for work in a professional setting and, with his classmates, prepared meals for people in need. We're excited to see where Joshua takes his cooking talents as he moves toward community-based employment.