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Gregory Heilers
Kitchen Coordinator
Optimist Volunteers for Youth & Camp Phoenix
April 28, 2015

Gregory slideshow

We are big fans of the mission behind Gregory's work at OVY Camp in San Gregoria, CA. But we are most excited to share his story because of the way in which he is carving out a career path. Gregory's combination of pragmatism and inspiration make his story read less like narrative and more like advice, which is something we could always use a little dose of. 

When did you know that you wanted to work in food?

In 2010 I was working as an agricultural intern at the Rochester Folk Art Guild. I lived in a community of 20 people that prepared meals communally. In that beautiful kitchen, with wooden floors, a perpetually hot coal-fired cook stove, bread ovens, and bountiful supplies from local and organic farms, something finally clicked that if I liked working in the fields growing plants and caretaking animals, why not bring it full circle and learn how to prepare food as well?

How did you get your current good food job?

Good Food Jobs helped me out! In the spring of 2012 I was helping out on my dad's farm, realizing I did not want to spend another hot and sticky summer in South Central Kentucky. A friend referred me to GFJ, and I found a job listing that fused several of my passions and desires: a kitchen assistant position with a woman who cared about where food comes from, at a summer camp for at-risk youth, on the beautiful (and with a pleasant temperature!) central California coast. What more could I ask for? Turns out I was their first applicant, so I explained my love of agriculture and working with kids, and my desire to try out the culinary arts, and I was in!

How did your previous work or life experience prepared you for a good food job?

I had previously supervised student workers at a dining commons in university, been a kid's counselor at a project in Guatemala, and worked as an apprentice and intern on farms and permaculture projects in several different countries. The breadth of these experiences convinced my prospective employer that I was passionate about food and youth. Though my culinary experience was lacking, they took a chance on me based on my passion for youth, sustainable agriculture, and education, as well as my strong work ethic.

What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in pursuing your good food job dream?

I'm in a seasonal position, so it can make life the other 10 months of the year challenging. Though I have considered calling it quits, I believe I am at the point where I need to take it to the next level. I'm looking to transition away from a seasonal position and use my experiences as a Kitchen Coordinator, educator, and farmer to secure a salaried position in an experiential learning urban agricultural project. The inequalities in our food system for workers, the way animals are treated, and the effect the "conventional" food system has on our land and water systems all remind me that I need to keep putting my energy into a healthier alternative.

Name one positive thing that a former employee taught you that you continue to appreciate?

The single greatest thing I love about my boss at OVY Camp is his willingness to offer opportunities for growth and learning. His approach to provide opportunities for personal development is one that I admire. Our youth encounter this perpetual issue of lacking the experience needed for their ideal entry-level position. Acknowledging that none of us possess 100% of the knowledge needed for any one job, now that I am the Kitchen Coordinator in charge of hiring and training kitchen staff, I think it's important to recognize qualities and character traits.

What can you identify as the greatest opportunities in food right now?

Local food production. There are so many more hands needed to cultivate, process, and prepare good food.

Unemployed people can certainly find wonderfully challenging and educational opportunities as live-in apprentices and interns on beautiful projects. The next step would be to take those work-exchange experiences and transform them into a paid position.

If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?

At OVY Camp and Camp Phoenix I do get paid with money, but that was and is not the major attraction. We have an excellent mission: to provide a a supportive and educational summer camp experience for at-risk youth. In the kitchen, we try to provide organic and local meals, when possible, along with a side of education about our food system. It's immensely rewarding to see kids embrace a healthier diet and explore their food system.

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