Who We Are:

The Blooming Bistro (TBB) empowers disconnected youth through hands-on workforce training and social-emotional learning within a dynamic restaurant environment. Our mission is to foster personal growth, stability, and success by supporting youth from foster care, re-entry, and substance use recovery programs. Through meaningful employment and education, TBB promotes healthy lifestyles, housing and employment stability, social connection, and reduced involvement with the justice system—helping every participant thrive and bloom into their fullest potential.

What We Do:

The Blooming Bistro (TBB) is dedicated to empowering youth who are aging out of child welfare, recovering from substance or alcohol use disorders, involved in the juvenile justice system, or experiencing homelessness. Through our comprehensive, hands-on programs, we equip participants with the skills, confidence, and support they need to build stable and fulfilling lives.

Our training integrates both hard and soft skills, delivered in a nurturing environment informed by evidence-based practices from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Our core program areas include:

• Culinary training and lifelong workforce development

• Substance use prevention and mental health education

• Suicide prevention and resiliency strategies

• Social and emotional learning

• Whole-self wellness and personal growth

Through these pillars, we aim to strengthen social connectedness, enhance well-being, and promote long-term success.

In collaboration with Employ NV Youth Hub, DWSS, community partner organizations, the Restaurant Hospitality Institute (RHI), and The Steele Family—bringing over 80 years of hospitality experience in Las Vegas—participants receive daily mentorship and hands-on guidance. Together, we help young people build sustainable futures through education, trade skills, and meaningful career pathways.

At The Blooming Bistro, we believe that with awareness, education, and the right support, every young person can thrive and transform their life.

A Special Thank You

We extend our deepest gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose unwavering support has made The Blooming Bistro (TBB) a reality. This project would not have been possible without the generous funding and partnership of the State of Nevada, the State Opioid Response (SOR) initiative under the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, led by Program Director Tracy Palmer, and the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), led by Michelle Berry.

Your dedication and belief in our mission made the TBB build-out possible — and your commitment continues to help us create brighter futures for the youth we serve.