Application open for High Road Kitchens
Supporters of One Fair Wage, along with 26th Ward Alderman Jessie Fuentes at City Hall. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ONE FAIR WAGE.
High Road Kitchens provides $10,000 to BIPOC-owned, full-service restaurants that have been open for at least 12 months. In return, those restaurant owners must agree to receive training, along with their operators and managers, on how to transition to pay their workers a wage of $15 per hour, plus tips.
One Fair Wage is a national movement to end the subminimum wage and to increase wages and working conditions in the service industry. On Friday, Oct. 6th, 26th Ward Alderperson Jessie Fuentes introduced the One Fair Wage Ordinance in the Chicago City Council.
Terri Evans, owner of Windy City Ribs & Whiskey, is a High Road Kitchens participant. The restaurant, which is located at 67 E. Cermak, has been open since 2017.
Evans said the journey felt like it took forever, but through the dedication of the team at One Fair Wage and the Alderpersons who worked for One Fair Wage, she got through it. In the beginning, it felt like the transition would be hard to make, but through the classes and the help of Michael Knab, she was able to transition her thought process in how she pays wages.
“I am indebted on an unbelievable level to be able to have the opportunity to learn what was needed to do the right thing, with regards to how we pay our employees,” she said.
Now she is an advocate of One Fair Wage and is able to explain to other restaurant owners what is needed to make the transition to paying a fair wage. As a result of the training, Evans now has two locations of Windy City Ribs & Whiskey, the one on Cermak and another at Navy Pier.
Unique McKnight, co-owner of Jerk Villa, wants to participate in the High Road Kitchens program. She acknowledged there are always changes going on in the city and she wants to be part of the change. She is excited about learning more about the program and how to transition to a $15 per hour plus tips wage for her workers. It is something she has been talking about with her husband, Peter.
With High Road Kitchens, One Fair Wage is able to provide 40-50 restaurants the $10,000 in grant money. There is a push to raise another $500,000 to provide more grants to more restaurants. While the grant program is limited, any restaurant owners in Chicago who are interested can take advantage of the training, free of charge.
“We’re finally at this moment in the city of Chicago where we can make history.
For more information about High Road Kitchens, visit onefairwage.org. To apply to High Road Kitchens, visit https://forms.gle/jqG1vHhVQDbTM41H8.
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