PTTC
Growing Careers, Building Futures, Transforming Communities.
PTTC is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development initiative rooted in the heart of Chicago’s South Side, designed to uplift and accelerate the careers of women and minorities in the hospitality industry.
About Us
Founded by co-owners of Bronzeville Winery; Cecilia Cuff, hospitality develop & designer and Eric Williams, cultural curator and founder of The Silver Room, PTTC was founded on the belief that when historically excluded communities are equipped with access, mentorship, and opportunity, they don’t just thrive, they become catalysts for systemic change. Through knowledge sharing and visible representation, they expand pathways to economic mobility and empower others to reimagine what is possible.
Our Mission
Our 501(c)(3) mission aims to close the opportunity gap in hospitality leadership by creating high-impact training, career development, and leadership pathways for underrepresented individuals, particularly women and people of color on the South Side of Chicago. This work aims to build financial security, bridge generational wealth gaps, and develop the next generation of restaurant owners, executive chefs, and hospitality leaders who reflect and uplift their communities.
Our Story
At Bronzeville Winery, we didn’t just open a restaurant, we opened a door.
Since launching, two leaders from our small team have gone on to open their own restaurants, and our former sous chef is now the executive chef of his own restaurant, NAFSI in the South Shore Cultural Center, the first black owned restaurant transforming a space that was segregated until 1975. This is the power of mentorship, investment, and intentional development. PTTC is an extension of that legacy.
We are cultivating a space where talent is nurtured, leadership is modeled, and opportunity is tangible, especially for communities historically excluded from economic mobility.
Our Work
PTTC develops and delivers workforce training and leadership programs through a hospitality lens, including:
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Hospitality Skills Training in culinary arts, service excellence, and management
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Mentorship & Leadership Coaching from seasoned hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs
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Career Pathway Programs that connect participants to internships, apprenticeships, and long-term employment
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Community Collaborations with local organizations like Girls Inc. and Polished Pebbles, providing mentorship and support for young women and CAPS Inc
This Needs to be Addressed Now
The South Side of Chicago is rich in culture, creativity, and talent. Yet in neighborhoods like Bronzeville, generational disinvestment has led to structural inequities that persist across education, employment, and ownership. Despite being home to one of the largest Black populations in the city, Grand Boulevard faces an unemployment rate of 15.4 percent, with over 35 percent of households earning less than $25,000 per year. Meanwhile, nearly 71 percent of residents are renters, and the median household income remains 40 percent below the citywide average chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://cmap.illinois.gov/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Grand-Boulevard.pdf
In these same communities, the hospitality industry is one of the most accessible employment sectors, but it rarely offers long-term career growth or ownership opportunities for the people who fuel it. For too many Black and Brown workers, especially women, hospitality serves as a stopgap rather than a stepping stone.
PTTC was created to change that. We believe that hospitality, when equitably resourced and intentionally designed, can serve as a vehicle for social mobility, wealth creation, and neighborhood stability. Our model is rooted in mentorship, skills training, and representation. We are not just preparing people for jobs, we are building pathways to leadership, entrepreneurship, and lasting economic security.
PTTC is a direct response to data and to lived experience. It is built on the belief that a thriving hospitality industry should reflect the communities it serves. When that happens, we see the ripple effects: stronger local economies, reduced reliance on social services, and renewed civic pride. Our work addresses equity gaps at their foundation by investing in people, fostering ownership, and creating structures that uplift entire neighborhoods.
Our Impact and Vision for the Future
Since the founding of Bronzeville Winery in 2022, we have witnessed what becomes possible when mentorship, access, and belief converge. In just two years, two members of our leadership team launched businesses of their own, and one former line cook rose to become the executive chef of his own restaurant. These outcomes are not anomalies, they are early signals of the generational change PTTC is working to scale
Since the founding of Bronzeville Winery in 2022, we have witnessed what becomes possible when mentorship, access, and belief converge. In just two years, two members of our leadership team launched businesses of their own, and one former line cook rose to become the executive chef of his own restaurant. These outcomes are not anomalies, they are early signals of the generational change PTTC is working to scale.
Our vision is to create a thriving hospitality ecosystem on the South Side that serves as both an incubator and a launching pad for underrepresented talent. Through PTTC, we aim to support:
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The long-term development of hundreds of local residents into skilled professionals and emerging leaders in hospitality
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Career pathways that move individuals from entry-level positions into management, executive, and ownership roles
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Access to capital, mentorship, and technical assistance for entrepreneurs who have been historically excluded from business ownership
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Early exposure and paid opportunities for youth that open doors to industries they may never have imagined themselves in
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A culture of retention and internal growth within hospitality businesses that centers equity, representation, and dignity
By cultivating deep partnerships with employers, local schools, nonprofit organizations, and civic leaders, PTTC is building the infrastructure for an inclusive, community-led hospitality future. Our programming is grounded in four pillars; Hospitality Training, Leadership Development, Entrepreneurship, and Community Wellness, each designed to create tangible opportunities for upward mobility and economic stability.
We are not simply preparing individuals to participate in the economy, we are equipping them to shape it. Our ultimate goal is to help reimagine what leadership, ownership, and legacy can look like in neighborhoods that have historically been overlooked.
We welcome the partnership of banks, foundations, nonprofit organizations, and community investors who believe in a Chicago where opportunity is shared, and growth is inclusive. Together, we can ensure that hospitality not only welcomes people to the table, but helps them own a seat at it.
Join the Movement & Donate Today
Partner With Us: Let’s build careers, together.
Your support doesn’t just fund a program, it fuels a future.
Every donation helps us:
• Train and mentor emerging talent from underserved communities
• Provide real pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership
• Invest in the next generation of chefs, creators, and culture-shapers
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