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Your financial contribution helps us continue operating our job training and support program.

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Your Support Helps Change Lives

DUAL PURPOSE

Work Options is addressing two community needs at the same time:

Increasing Social Equity

Our hands-on training helps individuals who have previously faced challenges joining the workforce to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of sustainable employment, learn employable skills and gain the confidence needed to secure long-term employment in the food service industry.

Alleviating Food Insecurity

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Work Options students have been preparing nutritious meals to help alleviate hunger and food insecurity for families and individuals across the Greater Denver area. To date, our students and staff have produced over 300,000 meals for people facing hunger.

Sustainable Employment

Work Options provides industry-focused job training for the culinary sector, a sector that provides stable, flexible employment. Most graduates go on to work in commercial kitchens where they are able to gain longer lasting stability and move up the career ladder quickly.

Social Enterprise

Work Options operates two social enterprise businesses. These businesses help to ensure we are able to continue providing our students with hands-on culinary skills practice and they also help us to generate revenue to offset the cost of our programming.

Partnerships

Work Options partners with both other nonprofits and governmental agencies to co-support our students. This means, we are not duplicating services and can focus our attention on helping students to learn the skills they need to get a job and stay employed.

Success

Work Options is effectively helping graduates to obtain employment and to stay employed. 75% of Work Options’ graduates stayed employed for over a year. Nationally, the job retention rate is around 25%.

Volunteer

with Work Options

Work Options assesses each volunteer’s unique skills and interests in order to maximize impact. 

Volunteers help with many aspects of our work, including:

  • Resume & Interview Prep with students
  • Assisting students with Job Search
  • Teaching classes such as Kitchen Math 
  • Planning and execution of fundraising events
  • Assisting students and chefs in the kitchen
  • Teaching and demonstrating specific culinary skills 

If you are interested in volunteering with Work Options, please email us:

become a volunteer

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Julie Stone

Executive Director

She/Her

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert G. Ingersoll

Julie Stone joined Work Options in 2010 as Director of Operations and was promoted to Executive Director in 2016. She brings more than a decade of institutional knowledge and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission of using food as a force for good.

As Executive Director, Julie oversees the organization’s development strategy and financial health while guiding overall organizational vision and impact. She has an extensive background in food service management, with experience ranging from fine dining to multi unit operations, and a deep understanding of Work Options’ programming, students, and community impact. Throughout her career, Julie has specialized in training and supporting individuals with limited employable skills, helping them build pathways to stable and meaningful employment.

Prior to joining Work Options, Julie managed the Ohio Governor’s Residence, where she developed and directed an innovative inmate hospitality program. This experience helped shape her commitment to workforce development, operational excellence, and inclusive leadership.

Julie holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder and is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University’s Greater Good Leadership Program. She also serves as a board member of the Colorado Restaurant Association and Foundation.

Julie thrives in mission driven environments where she can identify and mobilize strategic priorities to achieve both short and long term goals. She is known for building strong relationships, anticipating challenges before they arise, and translating complex ideas into clear, actionable strategies. Her leadership is grounded in strong financial management, cross functional collaboration, and a commitment to innovative, equity centered solutions.