Hot Bread Bakery helping immigrant women

HARLEM (WABC) -- A unique bakery in Harlem is serving up more than bread.

It is changing the lives of the workers it hires.

Lutfunnessa Islam's favorite bread to bake is Challah and the woman's who's originally from Bangladeshi learned to make the Jewish loaf in Harlem.

She found her first job at Hot Bread Kitchen.

Jessamyn Rodriguez launched the bakery four years ago.

Prior to baking, Jessamyn worked at the United Nations where she studied immigration.

She opened her bakery with the hopes of empowering underpaid immigrant women and tapping into their talents and love for food.

So there they learn to bake and they also get to learn English in an adjacent classroom.

There's a new incubator program that could help these women one day launch their own businesses.

In the meantime, they're on a path, earning money, and making their way in America, despite the inherent challenges.

Hot Bread Kitchen is doing well as a company.

Its goods are sold at Whole Foods and 50 other markets.

It's a small bakery that's about more than just hot bread.

For more information please visit: http://hotbreadkitchen.org/take-action

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new york city, harlem, immigrants, new york news, lauren glassberg

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