Cafe Momentum, a Dallas-based restaurant and culinary training facility, transforms young people’s lives by providing a positive environment in which at-risk youth who have spent time in juvenile facilities receive intensive culinary, job and life-skill training, as well as education, continued mentorship and support that enable them to achieve their full potential.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit restaurant, Cafe Momentum teaches critical skills that allow youth to apply what they have been taught in pre-release programs in a safe, real-world environment of nurturing accountability. By participating in our program, at-risk young men and young women rotate through every aspect of the restaurant from waiting tables to washing dishes, while working side-by-side with established chefs.

Our Needs

We request funds for the Café Momentum Internship, a paid workforce development program set in a fine dining restaurant that justice-involved teens use to chart a new course in life. Interns work through our Tiers of Success model, in which they learn all stations of the restaurant and other core workforce skills while also re-enrolling in high school, practicing leadership, and receiving comprehensive support from a case manager and on-site licensed psychologist. Restaurant and catering revenue only provides a portion of our programming budget, so we rely on generous donors to fund the remainder. Thank you for your support!