Jessamyn Waldman

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2008

Hot Bread Kitchen

http://www.hotbreadkitchen.org

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Community Improvement & Economic Development

The Bold Idea:

Introducing a social enterprise model that creates well-paid careers for immigrant women and preserves their traditional baking practices.

Despite the fact that the majority of immigrants to the U.S. are women, their prospects for well-paid careers are worse than those of men. Limited by domestic responsibilities, less education, lack of language skills, acculturation difficulties, and social isolation, women are at great risk of exploitative work, further perpetuating the vicious cycle of poverty.

Hot Bread Kitchen captures lost human capital by bringing women’s traditional bread recipes to market, which builds recognition of the contribution of immigrant communities. Paid training in baking, access to a diverse professional and social network, and a flexible schedule allow women to develop careers that work for them. After six months of training, including English and computer studies, the women are empowered to launch their own enterprises, find jobs in the thriving commercial baking industry, or, at this stage of rapid growth, remain in management roles with Hot Bread Kitchen.

Jessamyn Waldman pitching at Echoing Green Selection Weekend (May 2, 2008)

Biography:

Hot Bread Kitchen combines two of Jessamyn Waldman’s abiding passions: social justice for immigrant women and baking. She holds an MPA from Columbia University and a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of British Columbia. She has worked in NGOs and the UN on human rights and immigration issues in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Bosnia, and Guatemala. She has a Master Baker certificate from the New School University and is a baker at Chef Daniel Boulud’s renowned Restaurant Daniel. She was awarded a 2007 Eileen Fisher Grant for Women Entrepreneurs.

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
After several years of working in government and NGOs on immigration advocacy, I visited a park in Toronto, Canada where I saw women from all over the world baking different breads in a community brick oven. They talked, stoked the oven, and literally baked a community. I committed to establishing an organization that embodied this power that creating and sharing food fosters.

Breaking bread is a universal metaphor for hospitality and human connection—a paradigm for how people should treat each other in an environment of comfort and respect. Hot Bread Kitchen reflects my commitment to this ideal.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.) 
First and foremost, my parents instilled in me a responsibility for fighting injustice and, more importantly, they taught me that my actions could affect change. Beyond that, I was fortunate to come-up with a unique idea that I could make an impact in some areas where I saw inequality.

I credit the existence of this organization to amazingly supportive friends and family; one can’t single-handedly take on such an enormous issue.

New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?
Other organizations function as social purpose bakeries or offer workforce development programs for immigrant women. Three traits make Hot Bread Kitchen unique and innovative. One, our comprehensive training package is supported by the income generated by sales of our products. Two, our bakers get not only job-specific training but also language skills (if required), entrepreneurial education, and access to a network supporting their professional and personal development. Three, while other social purpose bakeries earn income, only HBK does this by capitalizing on our bakers’ skills to satisfy market demand for a wide range of ethnic specialty breads. Our bakers determine the product mix, be it organic tortillas, lavash, or Afghani naan.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?

Commitment to a good idea in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles
Humility
Tenacity and tirelessness

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?

Transatlanticism, Death Cab for Cutie
Reggaeton Sin Limite, various artists (available from illegal street vendors and on the NYC subways)
Broken Boy Soldiers, Raconteurs
Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend
Let it Die, Feist

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?

Disgrace, JM Coetzee
The Bread Baker's Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread, Peter Reinhart
The Devil’s Highway, Luis Alberto Urrea
How to Open a Financially Successful Bakery, Sharon L Fullen & Douglas R. Brown
Declares Pereira, Antonio Tabucchi
Losing Control, Saskia Sassen

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader
“If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a lily.” Chinese Proverb

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” - Article 1, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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Jessamyn Waldman