Who We Serve

Cooking, like social change, is an imperfect art

It’s messy, experimental and takes a willingness to keep at it until things improve

Let's help break the cycle

Working alongside local Justice Departments and community partners, Café Momentum is proving that it is possible to break the cycle of incarceration and violence that many of our youth have faced.

learning through doing

Paid Internships

Our paid internship programs are built for youth ages 15-19, where they can gain self-confidence and learn marketable skills to ensure a more successful future.

While we’re proud of everything our interns learn in the restaurant, we’re even more proud of what they’re gaining outside of it.

Improved social-emotional skills and well-being

An increased sense of agency and belonging

Increased access to health care services and basic needs

Improved self-esteem, self-efficacy and interpersonal / conflict management skills

An expanded professional network and increased employability

Increased educational attainment and access to educational opportunities

Sense of safety at Café Momentum

Decreased justice system involvement

Progress towards exiting the justice system

THE CRISIS OF YOUTH INCARCERATION

Despite reforms, youth incarceration remains a critical issue in the United States, which continues to have the highest youth confinement rates among developed nations. As of the most recent data, approximately 36,500 youth under age 18 are detained in juvenile facilities on any given day, a significant decrease from prior years. However, disparities and systemic challenges persist. Around 200 children under age 12 are confined annually, and some youth are still held in adult facilities, despite reforms aimed at reducing this practice.

When children are incarcerated, their social and emotional development is disrupted, and their future opportunities to contribute meaningfully to society are significantly diminished. Many find it challenging to reintegrate into their communities, with barriers to employment, education and housing. These challenges can increase reliance on public assistance or push some into illegal activities just to survive.

This cycle not only harms the youth but also impacts communities. We lose the potential contributions of these young individuals, along with the financial and social costs associated with incarceration. Youth of color are disproportionately affected, with Black and Hispanic youth continuing to face confinement rates significantly higher than their white peers.

Education also plays a critical role. A majority of detained youth perform three to four years below grade level on standardized tests and many do not complete high school. This education gap increases their likelihood of further entanglement with the criminal justice system.

From an economic perspective, the cost of youth incarceration remains staggering. According to the Justice Policy Institute, the average cost of confining a youth is $588 per day, or about $214,000 annually per youth. These funds could instead be invested in preventive & supportive programs that reduce youth incarceration rates.

Reforming the juvenile justice system not only has the potential to transform lives but also to generate substantial economic savings, estimated at between $8 billion and $21 billion annually. Addressing racial disparities and investing in equitable, community-based solutions can pave the way for a more just and effective system.

Youth and the Juvenile Justice System: 2022 National Report

Let’s get stirred up, together

If our goal to impact the lives of youth exiting the justice system resonates with you, consider donating to our cause. Supporters like you provide our momentum.

Donate now