Danny Sanchez (right) with a trainee.
OPENING DOORS AND TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH FOOD
At Forge City Works, we believe opportunity can change the course of someone’s life.
Through the power of food, we’re opening doors to skills, confidence, and careers that lead to long-term stability.
In 2025, that work continued to grow, with more than 65 individuals joining our Culinary and Hospitality Job Training Program. Through hands-on experience and real work environments, trainees built skills that led directly to employment and new career paths.
Danny’s journey brings that impact to life.
He joined our final cohort of 2024, ready to learn and committed to making the most of this opportunity. From the start, he stood out for his consistency, focus, and willingness to take on new challenges. Over time, he found his rhythm in the program and discovered a passion for being a barista.
Through his dedication, Danny earned the opportunity to continue into Level 2 with an internship at Fire by Forge, our full-service restaurant and training site. There, he gained real-world experience, working alongside staff, supporting daily service, and building the confidence needed to succeed in a fast-paced environment.
After completing his internship, Danny was offered a position as a barista. As he continued to grow, take initiative, and lead by example, he stepped into a new role as Café Supervisor and Assistant Manager, taking on greater responsibility, training new trainees, and helping guide day-to-day operations.
What started as an opportunity became a door to a career and a future he’s continuing to build.
Today, Danny helps lead the café and supports the same environment where he once started, contributing to the growth and success of the trainees who come after him.
That’s what this work is about. Opening doors. Offering a place to start, a space to grow, and building pathways to lasting careers.
Because of supporters like you, those doors continue to open. Trainees are gaining skills, stepping into jobs, and building futures that extend far beyond where they began.
