WHO WE ARE
We are a nonprofit social enterprise restaurant offering contemporary comfort food at our grab-and-go storefront, and creating healthy employment for women overcoming crisis through our Restorative Employment Model.
We exist to provide job training and healthy employment for women who are overcoming crisis like addiction, homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, and more
Restorative Employment Model
Our Restorative Employment Model is a pathway to economic dignity for women overcoming crisis. Our program consists of two program tracks that help support our women inside and outside of the kitchen.
Stability Program
The Stability Program is a tiered system of support, resources, and goals that empower an individual overcoming crisis to establish and maintain long-term social stability.
TIERS
1. Values and program goals
2. Access resources and seek community
3. Maintain stability and partner with mentor
4. Explore career options and future plans
5. Pursue future plans with mentor
6. Self-care and program leadership
7. Post-program follow up for six months
Culinary Program
The Culinary Program is a tiered system of skills and goals that train an individual overcoming crisis for focused production and healthy leadership in a fast-paced team environment.
TIERS
1. Values and kitchen safety
2. Kitchen sanitation and teamwork
3. Time management and menu
4. Quality control and recipe use
5. Customer service and marketing
6. Kitchen finances and leadership
Our Story
Early 1900s
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll where a philanthropic couple in Downtown Raleigh in the early 20th century. During the Spanish Flu outbreak, Mr. Carroll opened a soup kitchen to help struggling families. After Mr. Carroll later died in 1918 from the Spanish flu, Mrs. Carroll continued with their commitment to benevolence. She worked with local children's organizations, as well as Polk Prison Camp counseling prisoners, their families, and aiding a number of them to get parole and find work.
2016
The doors to Carroll’s Kitchen opened at 19 E. Martin Street and we began our mission of creating healthy employment for women overcoming crisis. Employment is just one part of what we do. Our grab-and-go teaching kitchen helps women develop culinary skills, individual skills, and social stability. We create a community that supports women inside and outside our kitchen.
2025
Over 8 years later, Carroll’s Kitchen has celebrated over 42 program graduates, with a 0% recdivisim rate!
Following our program, our graduates have achieved so many wonderful things including securing full-time employment, stable housing, reliable transportation, mending of relationships. Some graduates have even continued their education!
It takes a village.
We're thankful for ours.
Vicky Ismail
Co-Founder
Executive Director
Favorite Menu Item
Avocado BLT
Makenzie Hedrick
Director of Operations
Favorite Menu Item
Turkey Brie
Lauren Swint
Catering Director
General Manager
Favorite Menu Item
Cheeseburger Kolache
Sommer Younis
Kitchen Manager
Favorite Menu Item
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Our Partners
