At Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County (JFS), food is more than a meal — it’s a mission. With support from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, we launched a pilot food business training program aimed at helping local entrepreneurs—especially immigrants and underserved community members—build their futures in the food industry.

Our original goal was to train 10 participants per quarter through intensive, hands-on workshops. But the program quickly gained traction.

In our first (English-speaking) session, we trained 5 participants—3 of whom passed the ServSafe Manager exam and are now fully certified. While two did not pass, they received valuable business and food safety training and plan to retest. The real growth came with our second (Spanish-speaking) session. Thanks to word of mouth and community demand, we enrolled 18 participants — and all 18 passed. That’s 18 new certified food entrepreneurs now equipped to safely serve in Washtenaw County.
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The weeklong incubator includes:

• Financial literacy training, delivered by Bank of America’s Hassan Elsayed
• ServSafe certification training, led by Union Food Group
• Food safety planning, facilitated by Dainna Raye of the Washtenaw County Health Department
• Business development coaching, provided by JFS through federal Microenterprise Development (MED) funds

This initiative is part of our larger MED program, which helps refugees and underrepresented community members overcome language barriers, cultural adjustment, and trauma by providing entrepreneurial tools to build long-term financial independence.
With each cohort, we’re not just serving up skills — we’re cultivating confidence, culture, and community impact. From 5 to 18 participants in just one quarter, the demand tells the story. We're growing a movement, one meal — and one entrepreneur — at a time.

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we’re given the opportunity to reflect on the importance of mental health, how it affects our overall well-being, and make it a priority. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress affect millions of individuals each year. Unfortunately, mental health challenges are often still met with stigma, preventing many from seeking the help they need. Untreated mental health can lead to more severe issues that may impact personal relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life.

​​ANN ARBOR, MI – Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Washtenaw County is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Carmen, LMSW, CCTP, as the new Director of Clinical Services at Thrive Counseling, the mental health arm of JFS. Carmen brings over a decade of experience in youth mental health to the growing Thrive team, where she will help lead efforts to expand services for children, youth, and their families.