Eat. Drink. Change Lives.
Cafe Momentum is a nonprofit restaurant which provides a 12-month paid post-release internship program for kids coming out of juvenile detention. The internship starts with a 2-week orientation at which time interns are connected with case managers to address basic urgent needs, establish a baseline of stability in their lives and set personal goals. The interns work their way through all areas of the restaurant, learning legal employment, social skills and life skills. Case management works to round out the ecosystem of support including; financial literacy training, parenting classes, educational assistance and career exploration. Case managers help to work through issues such as anger management, trauma recovery, fatherlessness and abandonment. After 12 months, successful interns are able to graduate from the program and are placed in a job with one of our community partners. These young men and women, who the juvenile justice system has referred to as “throw-aways” are now employed, tax-paying, wholly contributing members of society.
