St. Coletta’s of Illinois relaunches bakery job training program with Dignity in Pay grant support

Employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are expanding at St. Coletta’s of Illinois with the relaunch of its in-house Bakery Job Training Program.

The nonprofit social service agency is opening Coletta’s Crossing Bakery using its commercial-grade equipment in Transition Town, providing participants with hands-on training and paid work experience in a real-world food service setting.

“We’re building more than a bakery -- we’re building confidence, skills and pride,” said Bakery Manager Elsa Espinosa Diaz, a trained pastry chef hired to lead the program. “This program gives participants the chance to learn professional baking techniques while understanding what it truly means to show up, work as a team and take responsibility for a job well done.”

The return of the Bakery Job Training Program is made possible through a Dignity in Pay Program grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services, which will provide $150,000 annually through 2027 to support the initiative.

Designed to expand access to integrated employment opportunities and eliminate subminimum wage activities, the Bakery Program prepares individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) for success in the food service industry. The revitalized program also fosters stronger community connections through local business partnerships and public engagement.

“We’re excited to bring back the Bakery Program as a modern, inclusive pathway to employment,” said St. Coletta’s CEO Heather Benedick. “Thanks to the Dignity in Pay Program grant, we are not only enhancing vocational opportunities for our participants -- we’re also taking meaningful steps toward creating a community where every individual is valued and paid fairly for their work.”

Each quarter, a new cohort of participants completes a four-week curriculum led by Espinosa Diaz. Participants earn a ServSafe Food Handler certification and build skills in kitchen safety, baking and culinary preparation. After completing the course, participants transition into paid, on-the-job training positions earning minimum wage within the bakery.

Paid roles include Baking Assistants, who work two hours per day completing food preparation tasks while working closely alongside Espinosa Diaz; Bakery Packaging Assistants, who work one hour per day labeling, packaging and organizing baked goods; and Bakery Porters, who also work one hour per day, supporting daily operations by cleaning work areas and handling waste.

From the start, participants are introduced to the expectations of competitive employment. Speaking to the first cohort of nine participants, Espinosa Diaz emphasized the importance of consistency and accountability. “I need good attendance,” she told the group. “We want you to learn.”

“You have to treat this as a real job,” reinforced Community Day Services Director Lauren Alexander, reminding participants that professional communication is essential.

“If you’re not feeling well, you must call Elsa and tell her you won’t be coming in to work. You can’t just not show up,” she told them.

In total, the program will support up to 40 individuals annually through a combination of classroom instruction and paid job roles, helping participants gain confidence, marketable skills and meaningful community connections. By 2029, St. Coletta’s will fully phase out subminimum wage activities in compliance with the Dignity in Pay Act.

Baked goods produced through the program will be sold throughout the community, including at local churches, businesses and farmers markets. An online ordering system will also be available in the future, allowing customers to support the program and pick up baked goods directly from the Tinley Park facility.

For more than 75 years, St. Coletta’s of Illinois has been a trusted leader in providing educational and vocational services to individuals with IDD across the South and Southwest suburbs of Chicago. The Bakery Program represents the next chapter in the organization’s long-standing commitment to empowering individuals through meaningful, dignified work.

To learn more about St. Coletta’s programs and services, visit www.stcolettasofil.org or call 708-342-5200.