A Hand Up Hospitality

08/01/2026

Tonight, my heart is so full.

A year ago, A Hand Up Hospitality was just an idea.

Tonight, I watched our inaugural cohort welcome guests, serve dinner, work as a team, and proudly showcase everything they’ve learned over the past two weeks.

These aren’t just participants.

They’re future chefs, servers, hosts, managers, and hospitality professionals.

Many of them have faced obstacles that would have made it easy to give up.

But they didn’t.

They showed up.

They put in the work.

And tonight, they reminded all of us what can happen when people are given an opportunity—and a community that believes in them.

I couldn’t be more proud.

To everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, mentored, partnered with us, or simply cheered these young adults on…

Thank you.

You became part of their village.

And to our first AHUH cohort…

This is only the beginning.

💛

07/31/2026

There’s still time to join this celebration! Come be the village!!
💛💛💛

💛 Launch Announcement + Showcase Dinner

For the past year, I’ve been building A Hand Up Hospitality one conversation, one partnership, and one relationship at a time.

Today, I’m incredibly proud to share that our inaugural AHUH cohort officially launches July 20.

The amazing part?

We’re launching because the pieces that matter most are already in place.

We have participants who are ready for an opportunity.

We have incredible restaurant partners who have opened their doors.

We have mentors, nonprofit partners, and a community that believes these young adults deserve a chance to build meaningful careers.

So we’re doing it.

Because sometimes the right time isn’t when everything is perfect.

It’s when people need you.

To celebrate the completion of our very first cohort, we’ll be hosting our AHUH Showcase Dinner—an evening where our participants will demonstrate the skills they’ve learned while sharing the journey that brought them there.

Every ticket purchased helps make this program possible.

If you’re unable to attend but would still like to support our participants, you can make a tax-deductible donation through our nonprofit partner, WHALER’s Creation, to help fund this inaugural cohort and invest in the futures of the incredible young adults we’ll be serving.

There are so many other ways to make a difference, too.

We’re looking for:
💛 Volunteer mentors from the hospitality industry
💛 Donations of products and supplies for training (knife skills produce, snacks, beverages, and other participant needs)
💛 Community partners who want to help create opportunities

People often say, “It takes a village.”

This is your invitation to be part of theirs.

If you’d like to attend the Showcase Dinner, make a donation, volunteer, or contribute supplies, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s change some lives together.

💛

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1994380221931?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/28/2026

Thank you so much Dan Krohmer from Other Mama | Raw Bar and Durango Social Club for being our guest chef instructor today!

Our participants got so much from hearing your journey and getting to prepare the ceviche from scratch was such a treat!

We feel so honored to have your support!

Thank you again for carving out the time to mentor our participants and be their village!

We’ll see you at the Showcase Dinner on Friday La Casa De Juliette 🌹

💛💛💛

07/26/2026

Some of these young adults have every reason to give up.

Some have aged out of foster care.
Some have experienced homelessness.
Some have faced obstacles most of us will never fully understand.

Every one of them has had moments where quitting would have been the easier choice.

But they didn’t.

They showed up.

They learned new skills.
They pushed through self-doubt.
They supported one another.
They chose to believe that their future could look different than their past.

Now it’s time for them to show you what they’re capable of.

Our AHUH Showcase Dinner isn’t just a meal—it’s their final exam before beginning internships with our incredible restaurant partners throughout Las Vegas.

For one evening, they’ll put everything they’ve learned into practice as they welcome guests, provide service, and help create an unforgettable dining experience.

When you purchase a ticket, you’re not just reserving a seat at the table.

You’re telling these young adults:

“We see you. We believe in you. We’re cheering you on.”

If you can’t attend, you can still make an impact by making a tax-deductible donation through our nonprofit partner, WHALER’s Creation, to help support this cohort and those that follow.

They’ve done the hard part.

Now they need a community willing to stand beside them.

Be the village.

🎟️ Tickets are limited. Reserve yours today and help launch the next generation of hospitality professionals.

💛 Ticket and donation links are in our bio.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-hand-up-hospitality-whalers-creation-showcase-dinner-tickets-1994380221931?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

07/23/2026

Every participant has a story.

Some have aged out of foster care.
Some have experienced homelessness.
Some have never had someone believe in them long enough to change the direction of their lives.

What they all have in common is this:

They’re showing up.

They’re learning.

They’re working toward a future in hospitality.

Our inaugural AHUH cohort is officially underway, and in just a few weeks they’ll showcase everything they’ve learned at our Showcase Dinner.

This isn’t just a dinner—it’s a celebration of courage, hard work, and what’s possible when a community chooses to invest in people.

If hospitality has ever been part of your story—or if you simply believe every young person deserves someone to open a door for them—I hope you’ll join us.

🎟️ Purchase a ticket to the Showcase Dinner.
💛 If you can’t attend, consider making a tax-deductible donation through our nonprofit partner, WHALER’s Creation.
🤝 Want to volunteer or donate supplies? We’d love to hear from you.

It takes a village.

Be the village.

🔗 Ticket and donation links are in our bio.

LasVegas WorkforceDevelopment SupportYouth CommunityMatters HospitalityIndustry FutureHospitalityLeaders

07/21/2026

Hospitality can become more than just a job, it can become an extremely successful career.

But the level of success is in each persons hand and what they do with the opportunities that are given them.

And that is just the kind of day one messaging we give our AHUH participants. Not only the hope that success is possible, but how to obtain in and keep it!

💛💛💛

07/18/2026

🤖👀 WOULD YOU UPLOAD YOURSELF INTO A ROBOT BODY?!

Tune in tomorrow at NOON to KSHP Radio - AM 1400 & FM 107.1, Las Vegas for We Are The Voices Of: Youth-Powered Radio! 🎙️🔥

This week, we’re diving back into the wild world of AI, robots, and the future of humanity with special guest McGee, Owner of Vegas Kids Zone Magazine! 🚀

Would you become a robot? 👽
Would you upload your mind into an artificial body? 🧠🤖
Or is that a hard pass? 😂

Tune in, get curious, and join the conversation!

📻 Listen live: FosterCareChamber.com/Radio
📣 Want to advertise? We’ve got opportunities for you too!

Vegas Family Insider

07/18/2026

💛 Launch Announcement + Showcase Dinner

For the past year, I’ve been building A Hand Up Hospitality one conversation, one partnership, and one relationship at a time.

Today, I’m incredibly proud to share that our inaugural AHUH cohort officially launches July 20.

The amazing part?

We’re launching because the pieces that matter most are already in place.

We have participants who are ready for an opportunity.

We have incredible restaurant partners who have opened their doors.

We have mentors, nonprofit partners, and a community that believes these young adults deserve a chance to build meaningful careers.

So we’re doing it.

Because sometimes the right time isn’t when everything is perfect.

It’s when people need you.

To celebrate the completion of our very first cohort, we’ll be hosting our AHUH Showcase Dinner—an evening where our participants will demonstrate the skills they’ve learned while sharing the journey that brought them there.

Every ticket purchased helps make this program possible.

If you’re unable to attend but would still like to support our participants, you can make a tax-deductible donation through our nonprofit partner, WHALER’s Creation, to help fund this inaugural cohort and invest in the futures of the incredible young adults we’ll be serving.

There are so many other ways to make a difference, too.

We’re looking for:
💛 Volunteer mentors from the hospitality industry
💛 Donations of products and supplies for training (knife skills produce, snacks, beverages, and other participant needs)
💛 Community partners who want to help create opportunities

People often say, “It takes a village.”

This is your invitation to be part of theirs.

If you’d like to attend the Showcase Dinner, make a donation, volunteer, or contribute supplies, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s change some lives together.

💛

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1994380221931?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/15/2026

Every restaurant partnership means something.

Some, however, carry a little extra meaning.

A few years ago, I had the privilege of working inside é by José Andrés as the sommelier and reservationist. It was one of the most unique experiences of my hospitality career, and I left with an even deeper appreciation for what great leadership and restaurant culture can do for people.

That's why welcoming Jaleo Las Vegas as an AHUH restaurant partner feels so special.

This partnership isn't just about creating internships.

It's about surrounding our participants with leaders who believe in excellence, mentorship, and the incredible impact hospitality can have on someone's life.

Thank you to Megan and the entire Jaleo Las Vegas team for believing in our mission.

Together, we're creating pathways through hospitality.

💛

07/08/2026

We've become so accustomed to applying for jobs online that we've forgotten one of the most powerful tools in the job search...

Ourselves.

Throughout my career, I've hired people who didn't have the strongest resume on paper, but they had something even more important—they walked through the front door with confidence, enthusiasm, and a willingness to introduce themselves.

That first impression matters.

This week's 💛 AHUH Career Minute is all about giving yourself the best chance to stand out.

Because your resume tells your story.

You bring it to life.

I'd love to hear from my hospitality friends... Have you ever hired someone because they simply showed up?