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Proudly Made By Refugees

Beautiful Day’s Granola Production Training Program offers paid, transitional employment for adult refugees who have resettled in Rhode Island. Our goal is to help participants enter the job market as integral, valued, self-sufficient, and confident members of the workforce.

Program Details

Refugees over 18 are eligible to apply. Participants work alongside BD staff in our commercial kitchen, completing up to 350 hours of on-the-job training while practicing ESL and other essential skills that will help them succeed in the American workplace. In addition to preparing for future culinary jobs, they learn packaging and fulfillment, which is a rapidly growing part of our local economy. Participants earn an hourly wage and performance-based bonuses while benefiting from wrap-around services and individualized support. We emphasize a team approach which builds confidence, sparks friendships, and develops new professional networks.

SUPPORT AND OUTCOMES

To support the ongoing success of our participants, BD’s full-time case manager ensures that new refugees and their families receive access to the wrap-around services they need. Our case manager guides individuals to create a personal service plan that identifies both short and long-term goals along with the specific steps needed to achieve them. We also coordinate with other organizations, local schools, and businesses to connect participants with permanent employment opportunities, continuing education, and industry-specific training.

Refugees graduate from the Granola Production Training program with a portfolio that includes a certificate of completion, job readiness evaluation, resume, and professional references.

EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS

Since we began our granola production training in 2013, more than 200 refugees have successfully completed the program. Each year, approximately  80% of our graduates find permanent employment.   

BD graduates often move on into first jobs in production, packaging, custodial services, hotel housekeeping, warehouse, culinary, hospitality. Others opt for further education and training. Some have been able to purchase homes and cars, send their children to college, and open businesses of their own.

OUR  PARTNERS

Beautiful Day partners with other refugee service organizations in RI including: 

The Diocese of Providence, Refugee Dream Center, Women’s Refugee Care, Dorcas International Institute of RI

We receive and make referrals, and collaborate when possible to support job development for graduates. Together we leverage limited resources to best support our community.

Our Curriculum 

Our Adult ESL Curriculum helps participants succeed in Beautiful Day’s kitchen and packaging department. While the Granola Production Training is 350 hours, the formal ESL training component is much shorter.  Participants meet weekly in a group for an hour lesson, then one-on-one or in smaller groups for about 30 minutes later in the week. We also integrate English practice into production as participants learn to not just complete various tasks, but also to talk about them. They are encouraged to use English while working together.  All participants are simultaneously enrolled in ESL classes through adult programs elsewhere in the community. 

We are happy to start making our curriculum available here. Our work would not be possible without the generous support of individuals, foundations, and businesses who care about refugees, and we want to maximize the reach and impact of these investments. If you are teaching job skills to refugees with similar barriers, feel free to download and adapt these lessons to fit your needs. If you do borrow or adapt these lessons, please let us know and please credit our work with a logo or website. 

View The Curriculum

OUR COMMUNAL DINNER

We host a communal meal once a week during our kitchen production program. Participants often share favorite dishes from their home countries, while enjoying each other’s company and practicing conversational English. Laughter is always our universal language. Staff, volunteers and supporters of Beautiful Day are all invited to the table. 

BD PARTICIPANTS

Beautiful Day developed to address the needs of refugees, specifically those who are facing the most challenging barriers to employment.  Our participants tend to be older individuals, often caretakers for multiple dependents, and people with limited English language and first-language literacy due to interruptions in formal education. Their arrival here is a testament to their abilities, courage, and character. We feel honored to be part of their journey to make RI their new home.

View Their Stories

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US

THE TRAINING STAFF

Roberto Romero
Director of Operation

Maliss Men Coletta
Director of Training