PART TWO of Second Chances, New Paths — Stories of Transformation with Touch A Heart
Touch A Heart Hawai‘i is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals who face barriers to employment. By offering vocational training in a healing and nurturing environment, they create pathways toward stability, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods. Through their Foodservice Vocational Training program and community-driven social enterprise initiatives, Touch A Heart has not only equipped people with skills — they’ve transformed families and strengthened communities across Hawai‘i.
But Touch A Heart’s story goes far beyond job training. It is a story of transformation: of second chances reclaimed, confidence restored, and communities made stronger through compassion and opportunity.
Session 2: Oct 17 — Inside the Kitchen: The Catalyst for Transformation, 9:00 AM HST
Join us for the second installment of our Storytelling Workforce Mini-Series, where we continue exploring how culturally informed social enterprises are transforming lives and building pathways to meaningful employment for Hawai‘i’s justice-impacted residents.
In this session we feature Jennifer Koon, the Employment Social Enterprises Operations Manager who will share how Touch A Heart’s social enterprises—Baker’s Heart, ‘Ohana Meals, and Touch A Heart Catering—create both community impact and sustainable revenue streams. Jennifer’s story highlights her own career transition and how daily moments of breakthrough, from earning a first paycheck to serving with pride as part of a team, reflect the deeper purpose behind this work.
We’ll also build on last week’s session with some reflection exercise led by Robin and Colin Kumabe, and explore “The Catalyst for Transformation,” a model that connects awareness, mindset, and meaningful change.
✨ Missed our Kick-Off Session?
You can catch up on the recording and materials here: https://www.hawaiiwork.org/worker-equity-lab/oct25-tah-miniseries-workforcestories
📅 Dates: Fridays - October 17th, 2025
🕙 Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
📍 Location: Virtual – Zoom - View The Webinar Recording Below.
✨ What You Will Learn
Barriers and breakthroughs: Gain insight into the challenges of reentry in Hawai‘i, from stigma to systemic barriers, and how empathy paired with structure creates change.
Training in action: See how culinary skills, certifications, and social enterprises like Baker’s Heart become catalysts for both employment and personal growth.
Human transformation: Hear directly from alumni about the turning points that rebuilt their confidence, restored dignity, and reshaped their futures.
Strategies for impact: Learn how wraparound supports, employer partnerships, and growth mindset training sustain long-term success.
🌱 Who This Is For
Community Members & Advocates who want to better understand the realities of second chances in Hawai‘i.
Employers & Workforce Leaders seeking inclusive hiring practices and models that work.
Funders & Policymakers looking for proven strategies to drive equity and opportunity.
Students & Practitioners exploring how compassion, training, and innovation intersect in workforce development.
Our Presenters & Story-Tellers include:
Robin Kumabe - the Executive Director of Touch A Heart. Under her leadership, the organization’s vocational foodservice internship program and social enterprises—like Baker’s Heart, Touch A Heart Catering, and Ohana Meals—are creating sustainable pathways that change lives one heart at a time. With a 95% long-term employment rate among graduates, Touch A Heart has helped over 150 people rebuild their lives. A UCLA Design graduate and former entrepreneur, Robin founded one of Hawaii’s first certified B Corporations and now applies her branding and business expertise to lead the nonprofit’s mission of transformation through food.
Colin Kumabe, Director of Operations and Training at Touch A Heart, leads the nonprofit’s vocational training programs and social enterprises—Baker’s Heart, Touch A Heart Catering, and ‘Ohana Meals. As the Baker behind Baker’s Heart, he created the recipes for its signature cookies and biscotti bites. With over 20 years of restaurant management and training experience at Zippy’s, Colin developed Touch A Heart’s foodservice curriculum, equipping interns and apprentices with hands-on skills in a supportive environment. His passion for service, rooted in years of working with the homeless on O‘ahu’s Leeward Coast, continues to inspire and transform lives.
Jennifer Koon is the Employment Social Enterprises Operations Manager at Touch A Heart, providing leadership across the organization's three social enterprises: Baker's Heart, Ohana Meals, and Touch A Heart Catering. She is a dedicated operational expert known for her ability to design and implement powerful, refined processes. Ultimately, her work is driven by a passion for identifying, developing, and showcasing the inherent skills of the individuals Touch A Heart serves.
