Café Momentum’s primary focus is the Dallas County Youth Village, a juvenile residential facility for nonviolent adjudicated young men ages 13-17. With the help of Youth Village Resources of Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank, a culinary program was created within the facility, where students currently learn basic culinary skills. When the young men graduate from this program, they will be provided with paid internships working in the Youth Village kitchen. Eventually they will have the opportunity to work at Café Momentum restaurant for one year, in an internship-style environment.
Café Momentum is set up as a social enterprise program of Youth Village Resources of Dallas. Similar successful concepts around the globe include Fifteen, run by the Jamie Oliver Foundation; Café Reconcile, in New Orleans; and FareStart, in Seattle.
“Our culinary arts and nutrition program partnership with North Texas Food Bank started in early 2008,” says Jerry Silhan, executive director of Youth Village Resources of Dallas. “The young men learn a lot about nutrition and get some real core culinary skills. Because of this certification and experience, they have been able to get employment after release, which has helped reduce the recidivism rate dramatically. Café Momentum will offer additional work experience and culinary skill development to the young men who are most interested in the food industry as a career.”
“Café Momentum is a true passion for me,” says Houser. “Cities like Seattle, Washington, and New Orleans already have social enterprise culinary endeavors. It’s very exciting to think that Café Momentum will put the Dallas restaurant community on the map and at the forefront of social enterprise.”
At the first pop-up dinner, Hobbs will create a five-course meal, which the students will help prep, plate, and serve. Cost is $50 per person, and diners can bring their own wine. Only a few seats remain! To make reservations, visit cafemomentum.org.
About Café Momentum
Café Momentum is a nonprofit restaurant concept that will serve as a culinary training facility for disadvantaged youth. With the help of Youth Village Resources of Dallas and the North Texas Food Bank, a program has been created within the Dallas County Youth Village, where students currently learn basic culinary skills. When the young men graduate from this program, they will be provided with paid internships working in the Youth Village kitchen. Eventually they will have the opportunity to work at Café Momentum for one year, in an internship-style environment, alongside a rotating roster of guest chefs from the Dallas area. In addition to seeing the style and technique of each chef, the boys will leave Café Momentum with a list of 12 chefs to use as employment contacts or references. For more information, visit cafemomentum.org.
About Youth Village Resources of Dallas
Youth Village Resources of Dallas is dedicated to helping juvenile offenders, ages 10 to 17, reach their law-abiding potential and divert them from further involvement with the juvenile justice system or progression to greater offenses by putting positive outcomes within their reach. Youth Village Resources is committed to bolstering the success of the work done by the Dallas County Youth Village and Medlock programs. The programs funded by Youth Village Resources are created specifically to help youth in trouble turn their lives in a positive direction through education and healthy life changes. For more information, visit youthvillagedallas.org.
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