• November 17, 2022 | Nashville

  Cafe Momentum restaurant coming to Nashville in 2023; how it’s already changing lives of justice-involved youth

  by: Sierra Rains NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On any given day, Cameron Carver might be found preparing braised short ribs or pan-roasted scallops for people dinning in downtown Nashville; but four years ago, his life looked very different. At the age of 15, Carver said he dropped out of school to take care of his mother […]

• October 20, 2022 | Nashville

  Edible Nashville Fall Farm Dinner helping teens cook up a better future

  FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — Edible Nashville is hosting its Fall Farm Dinner benefit Friday and Saturday and tickets are still available. The dinner is held three times a year, celebrating local farms and benefiting a different nonprofit. This weekend’s dinner will benefit Cafe Momentum, a program that trains young people who have been through the […]

• October 20, 2022 | Dallas

  Southern Smoke brings together top chefs for their three-day festival this weekend

  HOUSTON — Chris Shepherd‘s Southern Smoke Festival takes place this Friday through Sunday, with the country’s best chefs, live music, tastiest food, and fantastic wine, beer, and cocktails. The three-day event will raise funds and awareness for food and beverage workers in crisis nationwide. For more information, including purchasing tickets that go to a great […]

• October 20, 2022 | Pittsburgh

  Changing Lives Through Culinary Skills

  Café Momentum comes to Pittsburgh to help young people move from the criminal-justice system to self-sufficiency. TRISTYN WILLIAMS was 15, pregnant and living in a juvenile rehabilitation center in Texas. The world was closing in on her, and there seemed to be no way forward. She was also haunted by a judge’s warning that if […]

• October 11, 2022 | Nashville

  Hidden Pearls Podcast – Cafe Momentum – Chad Houser with Emma & Bruce Kittle

  In this episode, we go deep into an exploration of how a successful Executive Chef, with over 17 years in the food industry and who had achieved his own dream of owning a 5 Star restaurant, had an awakening while working with some kids in a local juvenile justice center teaching them how to make […]

• September 27, 2022 | Denver

  How the Broncos supported youth coming out of the juvenile justice system by hosting Cafe Momentum

  On the grass lawn just outside Empower Field at Mile High, players, fans and community members mingled under the warm glow of string lights. As the crowd danced along to lively funk and soul tunes, they were enveloped by the aromas of slow-cooked barbecue, sizzling spring rolls, cheesy nachos and much, much more. The gourmet-style […]

• July 7, 2022 | Dallas, Nashville, Pittsburgh

  Chad Houser gives formerly incarcerated youths a path to stability

  Three years ago, Cameron Carver was 15 and coming out of the juvenile justice program in Nashville, Tenn., after being incarcerated. He needed to help provide for his family, he said. “But I didn’t know how to do that the right way.” A probation officer told him about a pop-up coming to town, hosted by […]

• June 10, 2022 | Pittsburgh

  Fine dining restaurant geared to help teens set to open in Pittsburgh

  Source. Cafe Momentum, a fine dining restaurant designed to help teens who have been part of the criminal justice system, is scheduled to open in downtown Pittsburgh in August. The restaurant was created in Dallas seven years ago by Chad Houser.”Over the last seven years we worked with over 1,000 youth,” Houser said. Cafe Momentum […]

• April 7, 2021 | Pittsburgh

  Providing confidence, motivation and more

  Offensive lineman Zach Banner and former defensive back and current judge Honorable Dwayne Woodruff recently took part in the Café Momentum Virtual Dinner: Growing Opportunity. The Steelers partnered with the Players Coalition and Café Momentum for the dinner conversation, and yes everyone on the panel did enjoy dinner from home as they shared in depth […]

• March 23, 2021 | Dallas, Nashville, Pittsburgh

  Can Restaurants Revolutionize the Juvenile Justice System? This Dallas Chef Turned Nonprofit Leader Is Betting On It

  BY SANDRA ENGELLAND • MAR 11, 2021 “My priority in social innovation must center around creating ideas for lasting change,” Chad Houser says. It’s been a busy year for the English lit major turned chef, restaurateur, and nonprofit founder—a winding path that prepared him for where he is today. There are no shortcuts, he says. […]

• February 23, 2021 | Dallas

  Transforming Lives and Creating Opportunity for At-Risk Youth

  A Conversation with Chad Houser, Founder, CEO, and Executive Chef at Café Momentum Chef Chad Houser came to a sudden realization: Not everyone has equal access to the American dream. He evolved his dream to create Café Momentum, which works to provide opportunity and break cycles of poverty. Chad Houser (center) with participants from the […]

• October 19, 2020 | Dallas

  Cafe Momentum Partners with Another Nonprofit to Expand its Reach

  Café Momentum is expanding its efforts to help young people who have been caught up in the criminal justice system. The Dallas-based nonprofit/restaurant is partnering with Stand Together Foundation to launch Momentum Advisory Co. Stand Together has invested $1.9 million to support the effort, which will build programs to expand opportunities for youths. Read the full article here via […]