During the visit, the students toured HWH’s facilities and learned about the organization’s mission to provide job training and supportive services to individuals overcoming homelessness and other life challenges.
Housed Working and Healthy (HWH) welcomed a group of Elon University students to its Denver, Colorado facility for an immersive educational experience, providing them with a firsthand look at the organization’s Culinary Program and ongoing community impact. The visit was part of a collaborative initiative between HWH and Elon University’s Center for Organizational Analytics.
Housed Working and Healthy is a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals experiencing housing instability through its Culinary Program. The four-month, hands-on program combines culinary training, mental health support, and job placement services.
Elon University students, including Eric Rich, Logan Laszewski, Brandon Feld and Adam Shirley, have been working on a data project under the guidance of faculty advisors Vinayaka Gude, assistant professor of business analytics, and Tony Reyes, assistant professor of human service studies. The project is designed to identify factors contributing to student success in the culinary program, allowing HWH to refine its training and support services.
During the visit, the students toured HWH’s facilities and learned about the organization’s mission to provide job training and supportive services to individuals overcoming homelessness and other life challenges. A highlight of the visit was the Iron Chef competition between graduates of HWH’s Culinary Program, in which Brandon Feld had the unique opportunity to serve as a judge. This friendly competition showcased the culinary skills and creativity of HWH graduates, providing a platform for them to demonstrate their expertise while receiving feedback from industry professionals.
“Data can reveal patterns and insights, but it is the human element, understanding the people behind the numbers, that truly drives meaningful impact,” said Gude. “This visit gave our students the chance to see firsthand the stories and talents behind the data they are analyzing, reinforcing the importance of empathy and human connection in their work.”
The collaboration between HWH and Elon University’s Center for Organizational Analytics is part of an ongoing partnership aimed at enhancing their community culinary program through data-driven insights. Under the guidance of Professors Gude and Reyes, Elon students designed a dashboard to help HWH predict what students will most benefit from their program.