Innovative partnership between DIAGEO and FIU prepares workers for hospitality industry

DIAGEO, the world’s leading premium drinks company, has joined forces with Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, which has been distinguished as one of the top hospitality programs in the U.S., to train underserved members of the community with the skills they need for jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries.

The inaugural class of 50 students of Learning Skills for Life (LSFL), an innovative job readiness, certification and internship program making its debut in the United States, will graduate today. The ceremony takes place at 4:30 p.m. in the Bayview Ballroom at the Kovens Conference Center at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, 3000 N.E. 151^st St. in North Miami.

“We are proud to partner with DIAGEO to help educate the workforce for South Florida’s vital hospitality industry,” said Mike Hampton, Dean of the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. “Thanks to DIAGEO’s vision and generosity, this ongoing initiative will afford hundreds of hard-working, determined South Floridians to attain the tools they need for a successful future.”

DIAGEO developed the eight-week certification and internship program as a U.S. pilot of the successful Learning for Life program, currently operating in more than 32 countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Learning for Life has 59 programs and has impacted the lives of 63,689 participants throughout the region. FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management serves as the official academic partner for the South Florida initiative.

“This program was designed to inspire and transform lives,” said Randy Millian, President of DIAGEO Latin America & the Caribbean. “It gives individuals a real opportunity to better themselves and their families by learning a profession, finding a job and becoming active and respected members of their communities.”

Several of the students in Learning Skills for Life are single mothers and returning veterans trying to overcome challenges such as financial hardship and homelessness.

One graduate, Reginal Jones, 23, who grew up and lives in Liberty City, enrolled in LSFL after years of working in a low-paying job. He often supplemented his income working multiple jobs and washing cars. Despite the challenges of participating in Learning Skills for Life while struggling to provide for his family, Jones credits the supportive environment and staff for helping him succeed.

“This has been the best learning experience,” Jones said. “I didn’t have a lot of people pushing me in my life. Here I had people telling me every day, ‘You can do it!’ This program made everything happen.”

Today Jones will graduate alongside his wife, Jamie Duverglass, who also completed the program. He has turned his internship at the Miami Beach Convention Center into a job in the Operations department.

“Learning Skills for Life is an amazing opportunity for the underserved in South Florida to learn very valuable job skills,” said Richard Artelejo, Human Resource Manager for Global Spectrum/Miami Beach Convention Center. “We rotated three student interns through food & beverage, sales, marketing, events, operations and security, providing them with real life work experience in those areas impacting hospitality.”

The LSFL participants come from a variety of community employment and workforce agencies, such as Miami Rescue Mission, Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency and the American Red Cross, among many others.

“When trying to grow a program like Learning Skills for Life, we must identify other like-minded partners who are eager and committed to fostering its mission,” said Millian. “These partnerships will create a lasting and positive impact on hundreds of families and our South Florida economy for generations.”