Our Story
TURNING TABLES BEGAN IN 2019 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW ORLEANS INDUSTRY NON-PROFIT AND YOUTH CAREER DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS. OUR VISION WAS TO CREATE A BAR TRAINING PROGRAM THAT REFLECTED THE CITY WE SERVE. TURNING TABLES WAS BUILT BY INDUSTRY MENTORS AND INTRODUCED TO NEW ORLEANS WITH ITS FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF EXTERNS IN 2019. WHAT WE FOUND THAT YEAR WAS A THIRST FOR COMMUNITY WITHIN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AMONG BLACK AND BROWN BARTENDERS AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS.
OUR ROOTS ARE VISIBILITY AND MENTORSHIP. WE ARE THE TASTEMAKERS AND LEADERS IN OUR INDUSTRY. THIS IS WHAT SETS US APART FROM OTHER BAR TRAINING PROGRAMS.
Cohort V Talent Showcase at BACCHANAL 2024
The mIssion
Turning Tables is changing the current face of hospitality by providing mentorship, cultivating leadership, and creating career pathways while advocating for equity in the hospitality industry.
Our vision is to create a hospitality industry in New Orleans and beyond that is a model of inclusivity, diversity and equity.
The Program
TURNING TABLES PROVIDES BOTH INEXPERIENCED AND RISING BLACK AND BROWN HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONALS WITH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EDUCATION, TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ACCESS REAL OPPORTUNITY. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, WE SURROUND OUR STUDENTS WITH A DIVERSE AND COMMITTED COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT THAT EMPOWERS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEIR WORTH AND CHART A REVOLUTIONARY NEW PATH FOR THEMSELVES.
The Externship
Woven into the fabric of our externships is a real-life application. We put our curriculum to practice by providing on-location training in New Orleans’ top restaurants, bars, night clubs, and music venues. These training spaces provide individual students with a weekly assigned externship opportunity. This unites the class with spaces to learn about different types of service.
Beyond Training
Our holistic approach to cocktail apprenticeship ensures there will be a support system for externs after training. Our community partners provide essential services to ensure sustainability and longevity witin the industry.
Partner With Us
TURNING TABLES COUNTS ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP US GUIDE THE EVOLUTION OF HOSPITALITY. OUR PARTNERS ARE NOT JUST RESOURCES – THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS – AND THAT’S HOW WE MAKE BIG CHANGES.
