• April 17, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Cafe Momentum’s Plating with a Purpose brings guest chefs into downtown nonprofit’s kitchen

  Cafe Momentum, a nonprofit restaurant that provides workforce development opportunities for incarcerated juveniles, has launched a new event series that brings in guest chefs serving specialty dinners. The first event was led by Cory Hughes, the chef of North Side restaurant Fig and Ash and former chef at Google. Hughes also has been heavily involved […]

• April 16, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Citizens awards grants to two Pittsburgh small businesses and nine nonprofits

  One of the region’s largest banks has announced Pittsburgh-area recipients of two different grant programs. Citizens recognized two local small businesses among 25 across its footprint that are winners of its 8th-annual Small Business Community Champion Awards. It also awarded $120,400 in financial education grants and ongoing volunteer support to nine western Pennsylvania nonprofits as […]

• April 8, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Cheyenne Tyler is transforming young lives at Cafe Momentum (Personalities of Pittsburgh)

  Cheyenne Tyler is the executive director of Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh, a unique nonprofit that doubles as a restaurant and provides teenagers caught up in the juvenile justice system the opportunity to learn and then work as cooks in a kitchen alongside its new chef, Robert “RC” Carter. A Pittsburgh native, Tyler spent time in Florida as a […]

• April 2, 2025 | Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Pittsburgh

  Chad Houser Named 2025 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year

  We are proud to share that Chad Houser, founder and CEO of Café Momentum, has been named the 2025 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year. This honor from the James Beard Foundation recognizes individuals or organizations within the food industry who have demonstrated exceptional selflessness and dedication to improving the lives of others and society […]

• March 24, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Cafe Momentum changes speed with introduction of lunch service and new culinary team

  Hal B. Klein, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Two years into its run, Cafe Momentum, the Downtown Pittsburgh restaurant known for pairing social advocacy with great food, has launched lunch service. The daytime menu includes comfort-focused dishes such as a juicy chicken sandwich with roasted peppers, smoked provolone, mozzarella and arugula on house-made focaccia and a vibrant beet and Brussels sprouts […]

• March 19, 2025 | Atlanta

  Cafe Momentum Pushes Forward Youth Justice Mission with Incoming Atlanta Restaurant

  After a series of pop-ups that began in 2024, Café Momentum, an award-winning nonprofit restaurant, is finally opening the doors of its first Atlanta location on Thursday, March 27. With a mission to transform the lives of justice-involved youth, the restaurant is tackling juvenile incarceration intervention in a new way, blending rehabilitation and development with fine […]

• March 7, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Get Moving to Cafe Momentum

  Downtown’s nonprofit eatery has relaunched with a new staff, menu and lunch hours. When Cafe Momentum hired Fig & Ash owner Cory Hughes to serve as a culinary operations consultant last fall, it was supposed to be a temporary gig. But, he’s sticking around because he fell in love with the place. I did, too. So will […]

• March 5, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Nonprofit Downtown restaurant finds momentum with new lunch service and dinner relaunch

  Café Momentum Pittsburgh marked its second anniversary on March 1 and celebrated with a relaunch and a new lunch service a day prior. The Market Square restaurant had a soft opening of that addition for two weeks. Plus a new executive chef, RC Carter, joined its team and helped create the menu for it. The Pittsburgh […]

• March 4, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Girl Scout cookies, fish fries, Mardi Gras, and more Pittsburgh food news

  Café Momentum, the Market Square restaurant that provides culinary training to justice-impacted youth, relaunched with a new lunch service and a new chef.  Chef Rob “RC” Carter joins as the Cafe’s executive chef. Carter formerly worked at Cioppino Restaurant and Cigar Bar, which closed at the end of last year. Originally from Detroit, Mich., Carter brings expertise in “high-end cuisine, […]

• March 4, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  Cafe Momentum now offering lunch service as it brings on new chef, updated menu

  Cafe Momentum is building momentum with a new chef, new menu and new lunch service. Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cafe Momentum is one of three, alongside a flagship location in Dallas and another in Atlanta. The nonprofit restaurant provides culinary internships for young people who get caught up in the criminal justice system, as well as resources […]

• February 9, 2025 | Pittsburgh

  State grants help nonprofits’ teen programs reduce violence while creating careers

  Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania Vice President of Programs Kara Petrosky has worked with teens for the past 20 years. One point she can make with certainty is not enough assistance exists regionally to help all those deemed at-risk turn their lives around. Her well-known and established nonprofit organization and Café Momentum, a […]

• January 31, 2025 | Atlanta

  Tegna Grant Recipient: Cafe Momentum (Video)

  Chef Joshua Lee and intern Dennis share how to make Lima Bean Hummus with Parmesan Lavash Crackers on Atlanta & Company. Author: 11alive.com CMATL is one of five organizations awarded grants for their work in the community. Watch the full news segment here: https://shorturl.at/ceajf