[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 11 (Thursday, January 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ANAND SHANTAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2015

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of Anand 
Shantam. Anand joined me as my guest at the State of the Union.
  Anand's story is all too familiar. She was unemployed and struggled 
in poverty.
  Four years ago all that changed. She was introduced to DC Central 
Kitchen, an innovative program to combat hunger and train unemployed 
adults for culinary careers.
  She enrolled in the Culinary Job Training Program and received her 
food handler's license.
  But she also received so much more. She received the support she 
needed to discover her own confidence. She reignited her passion for 
cooking.
  Upon graduation, Anand re-entered the workforce as the Lead at Kelly 
Miller Middle School, preparing nutritious, homemade meals for kids. 
Today, she is a culinary instructor for the very same program that 
helped her turn her life around.
  She has health insurance. She is self-sufficient.
  Anand's experience at DC Central Kitchen is an incredible success 
story of how job training programs help people get back on their feet.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm honored to call Anand my friend. And I can't wait to 
try her kale salad.

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