Pathway to Work

PGP is proud to introduce Pathway to Work, a new group mentoring and job readiness program for youth entering the workforce, offered in partnership with Papa Ganache Vegan Bakery.

Pathway to Work helps youth build the skills, confidence, and readiness to thrive in the workplace.

PGP’s Pathway to Work combines social-emotional learning (SEL) with hands-on pre-employment experiences to help teens feel confident and ready as they take their first steps into the working world. The group meets at the Papa Ganache Vegan Bakery in Matawan, where teens learn by doing, building real-world workplace skills through volunteering, teamwork, and guided group activities.

This program will support youth by reinforcing skills to cope with anxiety, anger management, self-esteem, strengthening social skills and interactions in a public workplace; getting along with “co-workers” (other group members and bakery staff); resume writing; assistance with applications; practicing interviewing skills, and learning how to present appropriately in the workforce. 

Participants develop key skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship-building, and responsible decision-making. Pathway to Work focuses on building confidence, a sense of purpose, and practical strategies teens can carry with them, helping them navigate workplace challenges, work toward their goals, and succeed in a supportive, inclusive environment.

PGP’s Pathway to Work offers pre-employment volunteer experience in a retail bakery to develop and strengthen skills such as how to conduct oneself in a work environment, introduction to entry-level tasks, “dressing for success,” resume building and writing, application completion assistance, and other activities as applicable to the group member’s needs.  Our unique program connects our social service program with our vegan, mostly organic, bakery.  The environment lends itself to a nonjudgmental space where we help youth build on their strengths and develop skills to live more independent, productive lives.