Awatif Abbulrazzaq, 42, leads her staff at Shansel Kitchen with the enthusiasm and energy of a football coach.
When butter starts to burn or the cakes don’t rise properly, Awatif swoops in to salvage recipes with tricks she’s learned in her years of experience. Otherwise, she’s hustling around the kitchen, singing as she keeps her staff on track decorating cakes, piping out meringues, and rolling balls of cookie dough.
“I need the vanilla!” she belts out in a soprano tone with one hand waving dramatically in the air. A young staffer brings it to her, and Awatif eyeballs the perfect proportion, pouring it into a mix.
Despite her strong position as a leader in the kitchen, Awatif takes pride in training her workers to become peers. “I don’t work alone, I work together,” she said. “We are friends here — we aren’t just a boss and employees. I love them.”
Shansel Kitchen started with 2 employees in a tiny kitchen and grew to a staff of six. After the Enterprise Development Fund grant of $30,000 was approved, they added six additional employees.
“Everything you see in the bakery was bought thanks to IOM,” Awatif said. Before the grant I didn’t own anything, just a small oven.”
Zahara Abdulkarem, 19, came to work at the bakery three months ago as part of the grant-enabled new hires.
“I came to Awatif because I really needed the money,” she said. “I’m the oldest of my siblings. My parents are unemployed and I support my entire family.” After she started, Zahara’s admiration for Awatif quickly grew. “I really love working for her,” she said. “She has big energy.” Awatif stepped in as Zahara spoke and grabbed her shoulders in an embrace. “All the women love working with her!” Awatif said, pulling Zahara tight.
While pistachios roasted and sugar caramelized in the bakery upstairs, downstairs women prepared barbecue chicken and fragrant rice. Raweah Abdulsalam moved deliberately, lifting lids and stirring various steaming pots.
Raweah started working at Shansel Kitchen nine months ago, after separating from her husband. In the time since, she got a divorce and became the sole support system for her children. She was recently named First Chef in the kitchen. “My job here changed my life,” she said. “It allows me to take care of my family in a way I wouldn’t otherwise be able to.”
Raweah said that she’s seen herself transformed since finding independence from her controlling marriage. “My personality now is way better than when I was married. He was in control then. I’m in control now,” she said. ”I’m more powerful, I’m fearless, and I’m happier.”
Three years ago, Wadean Jaber, 41, came to the kitchen looking for work. Like Raweah, she found herself opening up after joining the staff.
Wadean started supporting her family of six after her husband, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and other disabling injuries in a car accident, stopped being able to work. Her husband’s brain injury also resulted in a change to his personality, which made him increasingly angry and volatile toward her and her sons. Wadean said she finds relief at work.
“The owner, Awatif, is always there if I need someone to talk to, if I need support or money,” she said. “My life has been so much better since I started working here. ”
