EAT, DRINK AND CHANGE LIVES

The Department of Juvenile Justice and a casual fine dining restaurant seem to have little in common, but teens 15 to 19 who have been released from the system are defying the odds at Café Momentum.

The Department of Juvenile Justice and a casual fine dining restaurant seem to have little in common, but teens 15 to 19 who have been released from the system are defying the odds at Café Momentum.

The idea to create paid internships for 15 to 20 youth who have served their sentences was conceived in 2011 by Chad Houser, a chef and restaurateur in Dallas, Texas. He wanted to offer an opportunity for interns to learn the restaurant industry that includes mental health support, academic and financial education, and recreation. He’s replicated that casual fine dining in Atlanta in 2025.

“Our success rate is approximately 75% with ‘graduates’ working with our partners at FedEx, nearby restaurants and upscale hotels” says Executive Director Sandy Welfare.

Read More:https://simplybuckhead.com/eat-drink-and-change-lives/

By Mickey Goodman , Award-winning Ghostwriter, Journalist, Content Creator.