Durham Tech’s Culinary Arts program provides career opportunities for inmates

Inside the Orange Correctional Center, students enrolled in Durham Tech’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program are learning far more than recipes. They are mastering food safety, kitchen management, teamwork, and the discipline required in one of the nation's largest industries.  

"Dean Darlene Bullock played a pivotal role in establishing Durham Tech's culinary training program at Orange Correctional Center,” said Chef Ranita Bullock, director of the program. “When another community college discontinued its program, Dean Bullock recognized the opportunity for Durham Tech to expand its culinary arts offerings and ensure that incarcerated students continued to have access to high-quality workforce training. Her leadership and vision helped create a program that equips participants with valuable culinary, hospitality, and employability skills while opening pathways to industry-recognized credentials and career opportunities upon release.”

The program, started in 2024 and held at the Cook School inside the correctional center, combines classroom instruction with hands-on culinary training. The program is 20 weeks/288 hours and is comprised of three courses: Sanitation and Safety, Principles of Culinary and Intermediate Culinary.

“Students develop comprehensive culinary and hospitality skills, including food safety and sanitation, culinary fundamentals, advanced cooking techniques, menu development, intro to baking, international cuisine, kitchen and front-of-house operations, and food service management,” Chef Bullock said. “Graduates gain the technical expertise, industry credentials, and practical experience needed to succeed in professional culinary, restaurant, and hospitality careers.”

The program has two instructors, one of whom has been around since the program began and boasts 43 program graduates since its inception. Chef Betty Redwood-Brown is a dedicated instructor who has earned the respect and admiration of students and colleagues. Chef Bullock says that Redwood-Brown's tireless commitment to student learning and personal development has been a driving force behind the program's continued success.

For many students, the experience is their first opportunity to earn college credit.  

“Students completing the program receive a certificate of completion from Durham Tech in the areas of Sanitation & Safety, Principles of Culinary and Intermediate Culinary,” Chef Bullock said. “Certifications earned include: ServSafe® Manager Certification; ServSafe® Food Handler Certification; Certified Kitchen Cook; ServSafe ®Alcohol Certification; Certified Restaurant Server.”

The food service and hospitality industry offers one of the broadest pathways for individuals seeking a fresh start. Entry-level positions can lead to careers as line cooks, pastry chefs, kitchen managers, entrepreneurs, and restaurant owners. Many graduates continue their education after release, building on the credentials they earned while incarcerated.

“I have heard of Durham Tech students who continue their education in business or Workforce Development (HRD) courses,” Chef Bullock said. “We hope our program inspires students to look for additional learning opportunities which open more doors to more jobs.”

Programs like the one through Durham Tech are also making a measurable impact beyond the classroom. Research shows that correctional education increases employment opportunities after release and significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to prison. Community colleges across the country have expanded prison education initiatives, including culinary arts, to help students gain marketable skills while strengthening local workforces.

Graduation day is often emotional because the certificates received represent more than completed coursework—they symbolize resilience, determination, and hope.

“Graduation day is a proud and inspiring celebration of achievement, bringing together Durham Tech leadership, Orange Correctional education staff, program supporters, family members, friends, and fellow inmates to honor the graduates' hard work and success,” Chef Bullock said. “Dressed in their professional chef uniforms, graduates receive certificates and industry credentials during a formal ceremony before concluding the celebration with a special reception featuring a feast prepared by the graduates themselves.”

As employers continue to face workforce shortages in hospitality, Durham Tech’s partnership with Orange Correctional Center demonstrates how education can transform lives while meeting regional economic needs.  

“Our hope is that every graduate leaves with more than culinary knowledge,” Chef Bullock said. “We want them to leave with confidence, purpose, and a recipe for a better future.”