Feb 24, 2025

Nonprofit Project Profiles Chef Kim Marks-Ball

Within the walls of Zaman’s Hope For Humanity Center in Inkster, there is a flurry of activity with no shortage of inspiring stories as resilient women work to lift their families out of poverty.

While those moments of inspiration often come from Zaman’s clients – typically single mothers with two or three children trying to support their families on less than $12,000 a year – there are also stories among Zaman’s employees.

One such story comes from Zaman's head chef, Kim Marks-Ball. She leads the organization's culinary arts training program, which provides professional training, national certifications, and onsite employment to adult students enrolled in the BOOST (Building Ongoing Opportunities through Skills Training) program. Originally working in election administration and politics, Chef Kim pivoted to culinary arts and discovered a knack for teaching.

 Second Wave Michigan, a nonprofit journaling project, recently profiled Chef Kim’s professional journey and work in an article: “In the kitchen with Kim: Immigrants, refugees and other women find a path and purpose at Zaman”, originally written and published by Amy Kuras on Feb. 18.

In the article, Chef Kim says that the atmosphere at Zaman’s culinary program is more supportive than a typical culinary school. 

“A lot of our students have barriers, so being a little smaller and being in a space that’s all women, it’s a safe space to fail. I tell them at the beginning of class they can burn things, and they will set something on fire, and that’s okay,” she said.

Once students have completed the program, they can go on to an apprenticeship role in Zaman’s kitchen or on-site bakery, find work at any commercial kitchen in the area, or develop their own small business through Zaman’s entrepreneurship program. 

The story is part of the Nonprofit Journal Project, an initiative focused on nonprofit leaders and programs across Metro Detroit. It is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Michigan Nonprofit Association, and Co.act Detroit.

For the full article, click here.