Root NS, Inc.

Root’s mission is to provide youth, ages 16 to 26, with a pathway to employment and financial independence. Through developing life and work readiness skills, youth leave Root prepared for success in the workplace. 

Founded in 2016, Root is a 501(c)-3 non-profit organization that uses the culinary arts as a tool for teaching workforce readiness and life skills to low-income youth in Essex County with barriers to employment. Root’s 14 week, 240-hour program of direct kitchen and classroom training helps young people transform their lives and futures through technical and experiential education, leading to employment and financial self-sufficiency. Core to Root’s model are three social enterprises - the Root Cafe, Catering by Root, and the HarborPoint event space on Salem Harbor - all of which provide experiential education and employment opportunities, as well as income that off set Root’s reliance on philanthropy. In addition, in March 2020, Root launched its Community Catering initiative to expand employment and continued skill development to Root youth graduates and help address food insecurity in Essex County with freshly prepared meals for those in need. To learn more about Root, please visit: www.rootns.org.