Yolanda at Taco Bell/ Taco Bell

The Staff here at the Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia would like to thank Yolanda Jackson for letting us serve by helping her get ServSafe Certified. We are so proud of Yolanda for her strong spirit, work ethic, and her willingness to arrive early and stay late.

That is exactly what Yolanda (age 27,mother of 5), did last month to get herself re-certified in ServSafe Food Safety. Yolanda a Manager at the Taco Bell in Fredericksburg, VA arrived early at the site and took a nap on the desk waiting for Chef Brown. Then at the close of the day prior to test time she had to leave and pick up two of her kids from day care. She came back, took the test and failed it by four points.

Showing that she is not a quiter, she paid herself to take the test again (two weeks later), and passed by a considerable margin. This was at the close of a work day, twelve hour shift. Always smiling, she showed true courage, and self confidence in her commitment to excellence for us and her employer Taco Bell. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you Yolanda Jackson

Chef Ralph Brown /IRON CHEF /2004

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia takes a look back to remember past events. The Daily News-Record, Lee Zion writes, "CHEFS COMPETE FOR CHARITABLE CAUSE".

"Chef Ralph Brown explains the secret behind making a good omelet--saute the veggies first. Then pour in the eggs. That way, the flavor of the vegetables permeates the whole omelet, he said.

Use a Teflon skillet, so the omelet won't stick, and you can flip the omelet into the air, Brown said as he demonstrated with a snap of the wrist. Brown was one of six chefs from the region participating in the Taste of Harrisonburg Iron Chef competition. Brown (a member of the Blue Ridge Chef's Association) runs a food safety/service training program through Project Food Chain in Charlottesville.

Chefs were invited to cook up their best for a paying audience, with the proceeds going to charity. The event, organized by Clear Channel Communications, raised money for Toys For Kids, a local program that gives toys to about 400 needy children every year, said Susie Smith Niarhos, 48, sales manager for Clear Channel.

Although Clear Channel runs a charity event for Toys For Kids every year, this (2004)event is the first time a chefs' cook-off was organized around it. Niarhos hopes it will become an annual event. "It's For The Kids"

Thanks / Mel's for ServSafe Committment

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia would like to thank Mel's Cafe on West Main Street for their strong commitment to food safety. Mel's brother Arthur Walker recently passed the ServSafe Manager Certification course with over 90% score. This follows Mel himself passing the course last year, and another employee on track to re-certify this month.

Chef Brown and his son Ralphie were featured in a local TV promotion for Mel's (seen here in front of Mel's cafe). Chef Brown claims Mel's has some of the best down-home cooking in town. "ServSafe and good food, a great combination".

Workforce Network Certification /Training Provider

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia is a certified training provider for the VA Workforce Network. For the last five years Chef Ralph Brown Sr and the RBC Institute have reported data each year as a workforce network training provider. This certification is for the ServSafe Manager Certification Course given statewide to anyone seeking employment training. So if you are seeking employment in the foodservice industry consider getting ServSafe@ Certified.

Welcome/ New Instructors for 2009

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia would like to welcome new Instructors coming on board in 2009. There will be a number of new Instructors joining our ranks in both the food service industry classes and in the focus on faith-based christian leadership.

"Reginald Winstead "is one of three instructors who conduct ServSafe certification courses for RAMW (Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington), according to their newsletter "the Cloak Room. Reggie holds advanced degrees in secondary school education and administration. He served also as an adjunct faculty member in the business department at Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia.

Following retirement from the U.S. Army he served as senior program manager and Vice president with reputable government contractors in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In that capacity, he gave numerous award-wining presentations to high level government and private sector officials. For over 16 years Reggie has conducted numerous ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certification coures within the U.S. Department of Labor Job Corps Community.

Reggie has been conducting ServSafe food safety manager training for RAMW for over three years and has a student passing rate of 85%". "Welcome" Reginald Winstead, we can hardly wait for you first class for RBC Institute in 2009.

PACEM at Holy Temple Church/ "A Great success"

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia and Holy Temple Church, hosted the PACEM Women December 27, 2008-January 3, 2009. The only way to describe the nearly week long effort is to say, "it was a great success".

RBC Institute, Inc supplied the food, and Chef Brown cooked breakfast and dinner each night. Volunteer Missionary Martha Walker stayed in the church each night to supervise and attend to the needs of the homeless women. They all seemed to enjoy the good, hot, home-cooking, and the old fashion southern hospitality at the Holy Temple Church. There is more information available on PACEM available at www.pacemshelter.org

End of year success/ 2008 ServSafe Graduates

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia congratulates employees of three great hospitality and food service giants for passing the ServSafe@ food safety course.

In our final class of the year employees for the Courtyard by Marriott University/ Medical Center, Red Robin (Charlottesville & Richmond), and the IHOP (Zion Crossroads), all successfully completed and passed the ServSafe Manager Certification class taught by Chef Ralph Brown Sr.

There were two other outstanding managers in the class who passed, Sylvia Stoneberger, Manager of the Daily Grind in Fredericksburg,Va, and Vanessa Easter, Manager of the La Taza Coffeehouse here in Charlottesville, Va. We are grateful for the commitment to excellence that all of these businesses have in this tough economic time. They are to be commended for their desire to provide the very best training, and to keep their customers safe.