Camp Singer youth receive instructions before helping prepare and serve the Breaking Barriers Brunch on July 12 at The Village Coffee Shoppe & Bistro in Yuba City. The event introduced participants to workplace skills and potential careers in food service. Photos courtesy of Denise Landis

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - A special farm-to-fork brunch at The Village Coffee Shoppe & Bistro recently gave local youth an opportunity to develop culinary and workplace skills while connecting with community members and potential employers.

Youth from Camp Singer helped prepare and serve the Breaking Barriers Brunch on July 12 after spending several weeks planning the meal and learning food preparation and service skills. The event raised approximately $3,000 for Camp Singer, with additional donations still being counted, according to Denise Landis.

Landis and her husband, David, own The Village Coffee Shoppe & Bistro and are working to establish 4Gotten Ministries, a nonprofit focused on providing mentorship, practical training and meaningful opportunities to youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

"This is so much more than a brunch," Denise Landis said. "It's about leading some of the forgotten ones by example and showing them firsthand that anything is obtainable as long as you work toward goals."

The idea grew from previous opportunities to work with the youth while preparing charcuterie for community events, including Yes to Yuba! at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. Landis said those experiences demonstrated how culinary work could provide the participants with a productive form of self-expression and introduce them to possible careers.

Camp Singer, formerly known as the Maxine Singer Youth Guidance Center, is part of the Tri-County Youth Rehabilitation Campus in Marysville. The program serves youth committed through the juvenile court system and provides education, counseling, vocational training and employment preparation.

Charcuterie boards featuring meats, cheeses, produce and other locally sourced ingredients are displayed during the Breaking Barriers Brunch on July 12 at The Village Coffee Shoppe & Bistro in Yuba City. Photos courtesy of Denise Landis

During the brunch, participants worked alongside culinary professionals and volunteers to prepare a meal using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. They also gained hands-on experience working in a professional kitchen, serving guests and communicating with business owners and other community leaders.

"By investing in (these) youths, we are collectively impressing on them a better understanding of what life can be like when we have the proper training and tools," said Landis.

The mission is personal for David Landis, who participated in the same local juvenile justice program as a young person. Denise Landis said her husband later spent about a decade in prison following struggles involving gangs, drugs and violence.

After his release, he attended college and earned degrees in communications and drug and alcohol counseling. His experiences now help drive the couple's effort to reach young people before they follow a similar path.

The Landises have supported local individuals and causes for years but are now forming a board for 4Gotten Ministries to expand their work and offer more structured training and mentorship opportunities. Sutter County Supervisor Dan Flores, who attended the brunch, said the participants' effort and enthusiasm stood out throughout the event.

"What impacted me most was watching the Camp Singer kids," Flores said in a statement. "Their work ethic, enthusiasm and genuine joy were truly inspiring."

The brunch was supported by culinary professional John Nicoletti, along with David Flores, Jim King, Steve Dambeck and other volunteers who helped gather ingredients, prepare the food and guide the participants. Royal Events & Services and Planned.2.Perfection assisted with the event's decorations and table settings.

Organizers are now planning a fall fundraiser to support 4Gotten Ministries. The group hopes to purchase an outdoor smoker for grilling and smoking instruction, as well as a coffee trailer that could provide additional training opportunities at community events.

Denise Landis said the long-term goal is to help youth build confidence, self-sufficiency and professional skills while showing them that their past circumstances do not have to determine their future.

"Being understood and seen has the power to evoke transformation," she said.