Janice Dias

Janice Dias was born to cook.  At age 16 she was a short order cook at a diner.  In college, she cooked in the cafeteria. Last year, the 32-year-old ACE Program graduate landed a job as an Assistant Cook at Sodexho, a major food and facilities management company.  Since then Janice has been promoted to head cook at a local school served by Sodexho.  Through a new partnership between Sodexho and Amos House, she will also train future ACE graduates who want further instruction in the field.

“I love my job. I love the atmosphere of the kitchen and the creativity of it, and I’m hungry to learn everything that I can,” said the Providence native. “It’s a foundation for me on which to build and it’s all possible because of the ACE Program.”

Two years ago Janice was struggling with a drug addiction and years of unemployment. She had dropped out of college and her life had reached a standstill. In search of a new beginning, she left Louisiana and returned to Providence with a fresh commitment to overcome her addiction. Janice learned about the ACE Program after visiting Amos House for an ID. She enrolled and later began our 90-Day Transitional Housing Program.  In the spring of 2007Janice, who is now drug-free, graduated from ACE as Class President and started her job at Sodexho.  Eventually, she wants to pursue a higher education degree, work on a cruise line, and own her own restaurant to train others who need a second chance at life.

“It’s never the end unless you say it’s the end,” Janice said. “Take each day at a time. Don’t stop until the miracle happens.”