In 2009, Amy Chasan worked for the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, where she supported academic programs. But budgets were cut, and when her work became too challenging, she spent more time with her hobby -- baking in her tiny home kitchen. Before long, she was hired to cater events, and wondered how she might connect her baking passion with her professional career of youth development. In 2012 she turned Sweet Generation Bakery into a mission-driven business that works to remove barriers for disconnected youth. In 2014 she started a youth internship program called RISE, offering hands-on kitchen experience to ask-risk young adults.
In 2015, Sweet Generation opened its first storefront located in the East Village. It has considered one of the best bakeries in the Big Apple, winning a "Best Cupcake" award from the
Village Voice. Sweet Generation is now a team of 15, including interns who learn cooking and social skills which help them obtain jobs. So far, the bakery has served over 60 young men and women who otherwise would have been at-risk.
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