Our name is inspired by the Hebrew phrase mi’avdut le’cherut • ”from slavery to freedom” • מעבדות לחירות
Kherut’s Origin
After witnessing the horrors of sex trafficking in Ukraine and Kenya, Yves and Jody Masquefa return to Orange County only to discover human trafficking was happening within the community. Consultations with local law enforcement and victim support organizations revealed a crucial missing link to lasting recovery: comprehensive training and long-term, employment within a safe and trauma informed workplace.
Recognizing the true impact relies on early intervention, Yves and Jody expanded their mission to focus on prevention. Drawing in on more than 40 years of restaurant industry expertise, they founded Kherut to provide paid workforce development to women who are facing extreme life circumstances. Today, Kherut serves survivors of trafficking domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and young women who have aged out of foster care, which are the exact populations that are targeted by trafficking. By offering stable employment free of judgment. Kherut powers vulnerable women to rebuild their lives and secure a hopeful future
Kherut’s Vision
Kherut’s innovative model centers on operating commercial commissary kitchens that power corporate catering, private cooking events, and daily food services, establishing a self sustaining platform for survivor employment. Through direct partnerships with community organizations like Grandma’s House of Hope, Waymakers, The Salvation Army, Casa Teresa, and Access California, participants enroll in a comprehensive 420 hour paid workforce development program. Trainees gain practical, cross functional experience spanning culinary production, catering, logistics, event planning, menu design, customer service, digital marketing, sales, bookkeeping, inventory management.
Upon completion, graduates are equipped with marketable skills, verified professional references, and a clear path toward financial self sufficiency. They can choose to advance into leadership roles within Kherut or leverage their experience to secure outside careers. Kherut’s ultimate vision is to replicate this scalable model in communities nationwide, creating permanent pathways out of exploitation and into long-term economic independence for women everywhere
“Kherut does more than just give temporary help to survivors of trafficking and other extreme life challenging circumstances. It gives them hope through long-term skills to work towards a better future.”
— Yves Masquéfa, Founder