CORE Academy Celebrates First Hospitality Program
CORE Academy, Hope through Housing’s free job-training program, has celebrated the graduation of 12 students from its first-ever hospitality cohort.
The hospitality track joins CORE Academy programs in property management, property maintenance, social media marketing, studio management and production management.
Classes for the entry-level job training program were hosted in partnership with the Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center, providing participants with hands-on experience within an operating hospitality environment.
Graduates Explore New Career Paths
For Mary, a resident of National CORE’s Corona del Rey affordable housing community, the hospitality program arrived at the right time.
“For almost a year, I was looking for work and going on interviews without much luck,” Mary said. “When I heard about the hospitality program, I thought maybe this was my chance.”
Mary said she knew little about the hospitality industry and was unsure where her next opportunity would come from.
“The training opened my eyes to how many opportunities exist in hospitality,” she said. “I learned there are careers in event planning, administration and guest services. It helped me see new career paths I had never considered.”
Today, Mary is exploring hospitality careers with a clearer understanding of the industry and the skills needed to enter the workforce.
Yolanda, a resident of National CORE’s Renaissance Village, said the program helped her connect her skillset with a new career path.
“I realized hospitality is really about helping people,” she said. “Whether it’s planning someone’s event or making them feel comfortable while they’re away from home, I want to be part of creating those experiences. Because of this program, I believe I can do that.”
About Hope through Housing
Hope through Housing, a nonprofit founded in 1998, provides CORE Academy as part of a suite of programs that help residents of low-income households build economic mobility. The foundation works closely with National CORE, which owns and operates more than 100 affordable housing communities in California.
CORE Academy was created in 2022 as part of Hope through Housing’s Pathways to Economic Empowerment initiative, which includes job-seeking support and financial coaching. It aims to help individuals prepare for stable careers in high-demand industries with opportunities for long-term advancement. Initially focused on residents of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the program has expanded rapidly in recent years.
In 2025, CORE Academy added the programs in social media, production and studio management while launching training cohorts in San Diego County. This year, the workforce development program expanded into Los Angeles and Orange counties while introducing the hospitality focus.
As a result, CORE Academy now offers training that introduces participants to careers centered on customer service, communication and professional skills.
CORE Academy Director of Learning and Development Angel Rogers, who led the training, said the hospitality track introduces participants to hospitality operations while helping them strengthen customer service and professional communication skills.
“In hospitality, the smallest interaction can shape someone’s entire experience,” Rogers said. “These students are learning professionalism, communication and how to make people feel welcomed and cared for wherever they work.”
Recruiters Offer Guidance
At the Ontario Airport Hotel ceremony, graduates connected with hospitality recruiters and employers, building relationships within the industry.
Lisa Wetzel of InterLink Partner Group, a staffing firm specializing in hospitality placements, said the partnership creates direct career opportunities for CORE Academy graduates.
“Partnering with CORE Academy gives us the opportunity to connect students to real opportunities in hospitality while supporting a program that is genuinely changing lives,” Wetzel said.
Additional Training Available
CORE Academy’s hospitality program is launching its second cohort – and first Orange County program – on June 9. The first San Diego program follows on July 14.
In all, the academy will host 25 program cohorts across all tracks in 2026, doubling the number of cohorts served in 2025. Hope through Housing leaders are also exploring future CORE Academy tracks focused on AI literacy and emerging workforce skills.