Café Climb ready for Kasich town hall today

GULFPORT -- Café Climb will host a town hall meeting with Republican presidential candidate John Kasich, governor of Ohio, at 11 a.m. today.

On Tuesday, teachers and students at Café Climb, at 1316 30th Ave. in Gulfport, were busy preparing to host today's event.

"We're just making sure the event space is ready," said Marquez Singleton, marketing director for Climb Community Development Corp.

Café Climb is operated by Climb CDC, a workforce-training program that specializes in the culinary and construction industries.

Singleton said the students will have a chance to serve attendees and demonstrate the skills they have learned through the program.

"In appreciation for him coming down we are going to open the Café," Singleton said. "The students will have a chance to serve everybody who attends, who decides to come eat."

The menu options, he said, will be fried or grilled chicken, Cobb salad or garden salad, sweet tea brined chicken breast, mashed potatoes, shrimp and squash casserole and a Hawaiian roll or garden salad with seafood gumbo over white rice. Dessert is banana foster bread pudding. The price is $9.95 per meal.

"This visitation makes me feel great," said Herbert Hayes, a culinary student who was working Tuesday to prepare for today's event. "I'm interested in showing that I have skills and that I can do something with my life."

Climb CDC has gained affiliation with several nationally recognized organizations and businesses such as Catalyst Kitchens, Youth Build and Starbucks.

"We believe what we do is key to the community," Singleton said.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Café Climb ready for Kasich town hall today ."