Lately the negative media has been loud 📢, and I found myself pondering 🤔 … where are we are headed, as a community, as a Country. Then I found myself channel surfing 📺 last weekend and I saw something brilliant 💡, something I can learn from, let warm my heart 💛, be a part of and something I felt compelled to share. If you haven’t heard the name Shaun Christie-David 🙌 , Columbo Social or Plate it Forward, do yourself a favour and read on.
Some stats on Plate it Forward (we are on Linkedin),
· Provided $3.75+ million in wages 💲 to underrepresented community staff, who would have been on social benefits.
· Donated over 555,000 meals 🥗.
· Provided ongoing employment 💼 for 200+ individuals from marginalised backgrounds.
· Employee retention 🔐 rate in 2023, 97%.
· 86% of the workforce is from culturally 🌍 and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
· 83% from supported 🤲 backgrounds.
· 56% Women ♀.
Words from founder Shaun, “I’ve always seen the power of food as a connector, a way to bring people together with quality, dignity, and a sense of curiosity about how similar we all are. I believe food is the universallove language that can bridge cultures, foster understanding, and build communities. Plate It Forward was a way I could create a conduit for cultural exchange, respect, and genuine human connection. Growing up, watching my mom cook was a way I knew she cared. She no longer had an accent; she was someone people wanted to connect with through food. That sense of love and dignity in every meal is what I want to bring to our tables- at our restaurants and through every meal we donate.”
“What sets us apart is our deep-seated belief in realising the potential of every individual we engage with whether it’s our dedicated staff or the guests who walk through our doors. We’re not just offering jobs; we’re providing pathways to brighter futures, fostering an environment where dreams can take flight. Every meal we serve is a step towards a more inclusive, compassionate world. This movement supersedes individuals and reflects the collective journey of ethnic and migrant communities.”
Source https://lnkd.in/gQCtUjyB
🛑 Read the article https://lnkd.in/gNvTdnTW, catch the episode on https://lnkd.in/gaEKU8Si or better yet, go and have a meal at one of the restaurants!
#inspiration #community #together #socialimpact #positive #culture #diversity
We hope to see you around the Funnel again soon!