EMILY KIM | GENERATE. CREATE. CELEBRATE.
Tell me a little bit about you and what you do for work?
I grew up in Seattle and then moved to DC for a bit where I finished Law School and caught the policy bug! After moving back home I got a job at Seattle City Council, which eventually led me to Molly Moon’s and managing their community relations and their nonprofit The Anna Banana Milk Fund. I became their Director of Social Impact and through that work partnered closely with their Head Chef Heather to help offer jobs to community members referred from our nonprofit partners. Heather and I saw that it was much easier to place someone with little to no experience in a front of house position, than it was to place someone in the Molly Moon’s pastry kitchen. When we saw no programs that existed to help individuals with barriers in this specific industry in Seattle, we decided to create it ourselves!
How did The Pastry Project get started? Tell us more about The Pastry Project.
Heather and I saw that due to the experience needed to jump into a pastry kitchen role, it was much harder for someone with barriers to opportunity to access that kind of job. We were eating dinner together one night and talking about how that wasn’t right, and also about how we wanted to use our time and skills to help our community in some way. That conversation led to The Pastry Project.
We decided to build a program for individuals with barriers to receive a pastry education and job placement assistance for free. We got to work building non-profit partnerships to refer candidates, applied for a grant for some kitchen equipment and student uniforms and materials, and built out a 12-week curriculum! In November 2019 we began our first cohort and in February 2020 they graduated and were placed in jobs!
I should also mention, The Pastry Project is a social enterprise, which means we are a Social Purpose Corporation, we earn money to fund our free training program. We do this through public workshops, Goody Box memberships and at-home Pastry Kit sales. We wanted to build a business that could self-sustain a program solely dedicated to social purpose. We hope others will begin to do the same!
What are three things that currently inspire your work and side hustles?
One of the biggest things that inspires me is seeing how I can help people. Getting to help our students find work they love and that allows them to live in Seattle is one of my biggest motivators! Systems weren’t built to be fair, and I take my job of breaking them down or building completely new ones very seriously. We built The Pastry Project, in a way, as a system to live outside of the inequitable education system.
What is the biggest challenge as a female within your industry that you face?
One of the biggest challenges as a female recently, in all honesty has been the construction process. The Pastry Project is building out a new space, and the construction field – everything from contractors, flooring subcontractors and electricians, to landlords is so male dominated. It has been challenging to figure everything out and to communicate about the process with no female partnerships.
What are some things you have learned since launching The Pastry Project?
I have learned that when you are truly trying to better the community and create opportunity – the community shows up for you! We have received so much generosity from our co-workers, our fellow business owners and our nonprofit partners throughout all of this. I have learned that although we need to push ourselves as much as possible, especially in this first phase of building, we also need to take time to enjoy the process and be proud of what we’re doing. I’ve learned that working with a business partner is much harder than I ever could have imagined, but that it’s also so rewarding, and we couldn’t be on this journey with anyone else!
How do you overcome creative fatigue?
I think a good solid work break is necessary for this. Whether it’s just a day where you take a long walk and get your favorite coffee, or a weekend at your parents’ house! I also have a list of women that inspire me creatively and I will take time to check in with them, either in person or on Instagram to see what they’re up to!
How has your creative aesthetic evolved over time?
My creative aesthetic is always evolving, and mostly because I am constantly getting to know myself even better. I’d say I’ve gotten a little bit more minimalistic over the last couple of years – but you might not be able to tell, because I still love my bright colors and fun accessories!
How have you been staying inspired during COVID-19/quarantine?
I take walks and listen to podcasts that inspire me like: Radio Cherry Bombe, The Walk-In, Code Switch, Second Life, Lola’s Ink, SOS. I finished 1619 and someone just recommended Nice White Parents, so I’m excited to dig into that. I also dance around my apartment everyday (with my cat) and rearrange my furniture constantly!
If you could tell yourself one thing 10 years ago, what would it be?
I would tell myself, keep being you and trying a little bit of everything, - in 10 years you will be someone you’ll be proud of!
What do you hope to accomplish 5 years from now?
I hope that 5 years from now The Pastry Project Seattle is completely self-sustaining and ready for growth. Our dream is to help create The Pastry Project in other cities!
