LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is a Los Angeles community hub where people gather to celebrate Latinx culture, including the culinary arts. The centerpiece of the culinary programs is LA Cocina de Gloria Molina, a teaching kitchen and event space that spotlights the history, culture, and influence of Mexican and Mexican American cuisine.
The organization recently launched the Culinary Youth Training Program, a free, bilingual program that provides people ages 16-24 from under-resourced communities with job-ready skills to enter the restaurant and hospitality industry. It offers hands-on cooking classes, introducing students to the basics of kitchen safety and recipe execution. Graduates will leave with a polished résumé, the chance to take the California ServSafe Certification Exam, and opportunities to connect with chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary schools.
The Culinary Youth Training Program is made possible by the SNAP Foundation and the PepsiCo Foundation.
Applicants can choose one cohort, each lasting five weeks with two sessions per week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Fall II 2025 Baking Only Cohort — Sept. 30 – Oct. 29
Winter 2025 — Nov. 4 - Dec 10
Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 24 at the time of application and should not hold a ServSafe Certification or a Food Handler’s Certificate. For more information and to apply, click here. Questions? Email cocina@lapca.org or call 323-397-8365.
Gloria Molina program participants
About Gloria Molina
Gloria Molina was a trailblazer for women in public office and community activism who dedicated her life to serving her community. She was the first woman to become a Los Angeles County Supervisor, the first Latina to serve on both the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Legislature. She also played a key role in launching LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and was passionate about what she considered the heart of a Mexican home: the kitchen. "Mexican food is one of our greatest cultural contributions to the world,” she once said.