About · First Course

Our mission

“We provide job training in a supportive work environment where young people build the skills and confidence to succeed in meaningful careers.”

The Wrigley Coffee mission. First Course carries it to high school students.

Why “First Course”

The first course of a meal, and a first step into work.

How we got hereFirst Course is new. The work behind it isn’t.

Feb 2022
Wrigley Coffee opens at 437 W Willow St, started by Family Promise of the South Bay to offer paid job training.
2022 to 2023
First year: Wrigley Coffee trains its first class of adults. Five graduates land full-time jobs.
2024
Wrigley becomes its own nonprofit, Forward Endeavors.
Spring 2026
Browning pilot. 12 of 12 students finish.
Sep 2026
The program is named First Course and grows to four weeks with internships.
Oct 13, 2026
Fall cohort begins.
Nov 6, 2026
First Community Showcase.

The people behind First Course.

A small team runs the program from inside the café. Tap anyone to read more.

Chris L. Cano, MDiv, FT
Executive Director
Forward Endeavors, Wrigley Coffee and Common Ground Grief
Executive Director
Chris L. Cano, MDiv, FT
Forward Endeavors, Wrigley Coffee and Common Ground Grief
Chris leads Forward Endeavors, the nonprofit behind Wrigley Coffee and Common Ground Grief. He is a grief educator and Fellow in Thanatology with more than 25 years of experience in education, ministry and funeral service. He co-founded Common Ground Grief. Chris helped dream up First Course so more Long Beach students get a strong first job and someone in their corner.
Phil Hambrick
Director of Operations
Forward Endeavors
Director of Operations
Phil Hambrick
Forward Endeavors
Phil has spent more than 10 years building and running operations teams. He helped grow a California delivery company from one location to a statewide network with 400+ drivers and 120+ direct reports. At Forward Endeavors he runs the systems behind every program, so staff can focus on people. Phil is also a strength and conditioning coach.
Will Geoghegan
Program Coordinator
First Course
Program Coordinator
Will Geoghegan
First Course
Will leads the First Course curriculum and facilitates every session. He is earning his Master of Social Work through The Ohio State University and has worked with Forward Endeavors and Common Ground Grief since May 2026. Will tells every student the same thing: you get out of this what you put in.
Robert Casey
Coffee Program Manager
Wrigley Coffee
Coffee Program Manager
Robert Casey
Wrigley Coffee
Robert runs the coffee program at Wrigley and leads hands-on barista training, from pulling shots to steaming milk to working a rush. He knows the café and the people behind it, and he represents Wrigley across Long Beach.

With thanks to our program partners

School partnership and student outreach
Mr. Miyake
Pathways & Business Engagement Facilitator, Browning High School
Mr. Miyake helped establish the partnership that ultimately grew into First Course. Today, he drives student engagement by promoting the program, interviewing candidates, and selecting interns for each cohort.
Pathways & Business Engagement Facilitator, Browning High School
Mr. Miyake
Mr. Miyake serves as the Pathways & Business Engagement Facilitator at Browning High School, where he bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunity. In this role, he connects students in the Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation pathway with leading employers across Long Beach, cultivating meaningful career opportunities for the next generation of industry professionals. Recognized for his commitment to community collaboration, Mr. Miyake was named a Long Beach Unified School District Vision 2035 Star for community engagement and collaboration. His work is defined by impactful local partnerships, including helping launch the collaboration between Browning High School and Wrigley Coffee. He also co-created First Course, a program where he manages student outreach, interviews applicants, and selects each cohort while actively presenting the initiative to local sponsors.
Hospitality and food safety
Richelle Toriyama, MBA, CP-FS
Founder & Principal, Toriyama Group
Richelle gives First Course her time and her know-how. She brings local restaurants and food brands to the table, and she leads the effort to provide meals for our students.
Founder & Principal, Toriyama Group
Richelle Toriyama, MBA, CP-FS
Richelle founded Toriyama Group, a consulting firm that works with restaurants, chains and hotels. She brings 20 years of hospitality experience and is a Certified Professional in Food Safety. She holds a B.S. in Nutritional Science from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Cal State LA. At First Course, Richelle works with Browning High School and our team to launch the program. She brings in local restaurants and food brands as partners, and she leads the effort to provide meals for students.

Board of DirectorsThe 7 people who oversee Forward Endeavors.

Bill White
Board President
Board President
Bill White
Co-Pastor of City Church of Long Beach and co-founder of Small Church Big Table, a nonprofit that advances inclusion and justice in faith communities.
Andrew Nishimoto
Board Vice President
Board Vice President
Andrew Nishimoto
Andrew founded Wrigley Coffee in 2022 while leading Family Promise of the South Bay. He has more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership, including serving as Executive Director of several organizations. He now leads Impact Group Consulting and is shaping the First Course growth plan.
Michael Guitar
Treasurer
Treasurer
Michael Guitar
An appellate attorney in Los Angeles who has served on the board since Forward Endeavors was founded.
Katie Larson
Secretary
Secretary
Katie Larson
A broker associate at Keller Williams Pacific Estates since 2013 after 25 years in management at United Airlines. Katie chairs the Long Beach Airport Advisory Commission and is a UCLA graduate and Leadership Long Beach alum.
Amanda Waters
Board Member
Board Member
Amanda Waters
Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, focused on social equity, education and community development.
Katrina Chen
Board Member
Board Member
Katrina Chen
A project manager with expertise in global health strategy and partnerships across sectors.
Nancy Manriquez-Dowell
Board Member
Board Member
Nancy Manriquez-Dowell
A school counselor since 1985 with a master’s in educational psychology and counseling from CSULB. Nancy has volunteered with Camp Fire for more than 20 years and serves on the boards of Young Horizons and International City Theater.

Our school partner

Thank you, Browning High School.

First Course started with Browning. In spring 2026, twelve students from its Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation pathway took part in our pilot, and all twelve finished. Every student since has come from Browning too.

Browning lists Wrigley Coffee among its industry partners. We’re proud to be on that list.

How we all fit together.

Forward Endeavors is a Long Beach nonprofit. It does business as First Course, Wrigley Coffee and Common Ground Grief. First Course is taught inside Wrigley Coffee.