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News

Tablespoons Bakery serves up culinary training, education

VPM | By Shaban Athuman
Published September 8, 2023 at 11:49 AM EDT
Bannister walks towards the kitchen
1 of 11  — Bannister walks towards the kitchen
Brianne Bannister makes her way to Tablespoons Bakery, located inside Westover Hills United Methodist Church, on July 20.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister takes a video, for social media, as Turton-Jones narrates
2 of 11  — Bannister takes a video, for social media, as Turton-Jones narrates
Brianne Bannister — the lead site educator at Tablespoons Bakery in Richmond — makes a video with baker Kemani Turton-Jones.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister prepares their work station with Turton-Jones
3 of 11  — Bannister prepares their work station with Turton-Jones
Brianne Bannister prepares a batch of cookies with baker Kemani Turton-Jones at Richmond's Tablespoon Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister, right, laughs after Turton-Jones made a pun
4 of 11  — Bannister, right, laughs after Turton-Jones made a pun
Brianne Bannister loses a pun battle with Kemani Turton-Jones as they prepare a batch of cookies at Richmond's Tablespoon Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister sets aside a new batch of cookies as Turton-Jones cleans up his side of the work station
5 of 11  — Bannister sets aside a new batch of cookies as Turton-Jones cleans up his side of the work station
Brianne Bannister and Kemani Turton-Jones prepare a batch of cookies at Richmond's Tablespoon Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Redford leads a group huddle to set task for everyone
6 of 11  — Redford leads a group huddle to set task for everyone
Tablespoons Bakery Founder Elizabeth Redford (right) leads a discussion with staff before getting back to work.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister smiles as she tries to get the attention of her students
7 of 11  — Bannister smiles as she tries to get the attention of her students
Brianne Bannister leads a resume building class at Richmond's Tablespoons Bakery. During the monthlong internship, students are taught job skills, trained on food safety, work readiness, as well as social skills.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister looks over Torrence Wortham’s work
8 of 11  — Bannister looks over Torrence Wortham’s work
Brianne Bannister helps Thomas Torrence Wortham with his resume at Richmond's Tablespoons Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
An envolope filled with words of encouragement hangs in the classrooms
9 of 11  — An envolope filled with words of encouragement hangs in the classrooms
Notes of encouragement hang on a wall at Richmond's Tablespoons Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister chats With Enochs as they work on their resume
10 of 11  — Bannister chats With Enochs as they work on their resume
Brianne Bannister (right) chats with Jadie Enochs as she leads a resume building class at Richmond's Tablespoons Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News
Bannister helps Kaikkonen with her resume
11 of 11  — Bannister helps Kaikkonen with her resume
Brianne Bannister (left) works with Annaliise Kaikkonen on their resume at Richmond's Tablespoons Bakery.
Shaban Athuman / VPM News

Kemani Turton-Jones carries a flag out to the front steps early on July 20, officially opening Tablespoons Bakery for the day.

Turton-Jones then heads back inside with Brianne Bannister — the lead site educator at Tablespoons — to prepare a new batch of cookies. Taylor Swift serves as their musical accompaniment.

The Forest Hill bakery is a vocational culinary training program that provides employment opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities.

Turton-Jones was a member of the first class in 2017.

Check out VPM News Focal Point's coverage of Tablespoons Bakery.

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News Daily PhotosFood and DrinkEducationRichmond
Shaban Athuman
Shaban Athuman was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp and grew up in Roanoke, where he fell in love with photography.
See stories by Shaban Athuman