At Good Work Austin, our work is about nourishing the people who nourish our city. We believe the heart of our city lies in its food and beverage scene, but that it must be equitable and accessible. Our organization, in collaboration with a network of local restaurants, is fostering sustainable careers through professional development and advocacy. 

Good Work Austin is dedicated to improving healthcare access, identifying healthy workplaces, and providing culinary training for those facing barriers to employment. Our Culinary Workforce Training program is a free nine-week course that helps students find a living-wage job in the food and beverage industry. Students learn culinary skills from some of the best chefs in Austin while receiving a stipend to support themselves for the duration of the program. 

In partnership with GFiber, we identified a major, often overlooked barrier to employment: the digital divide. With job applications and information available mainly online, our students need internet access to get their foot in the door. Digital equity broadens employment opportunities, while our program provides the skills to get hired. 

To bridge the digital divide, GFiber funded a pilot program to equip our students with Google Chromebooks, available for them to use throughout the program and keep after graduating. These laptops allow our students to fully participate in training, build digital literacy skills, and secure employment at the end of the program. 

Access to technology is a critical barrier in workforce development, and these computers have been life changing. Brianna, one of our culinary trainees, shared her experience, “Instantly, I felt special. Like the community, businesses, donors, and GWA truly cared about us and our growth. I was already invested and motivated to do well in this program and elevate my life; to have others be as invested is a true gift. Thank you to all that contributed to providing us with laptops, especially GFiber.”