A New Model For Youth Justice StarTs HerE
Café Momentum is an acclaimed and nationally-recognized nonprofit restaurant and professional training program which features a paid internship program that provides 12 months of curriculum for youth, ages 15-19, involved in the justice system.
In addition to our restaurant and program, we are simultaneously working to inspire change in the juvenile justice system -- moving it away from a system that has historically targeted and incarcerated youth of color, and moving it toward one that focuses on young people’s potential and understands the systemic factors that have placed them in their current life circumstances.
We aim to create healing -- not just for the individuals themselves, but for their communities and future generations.
Momentum Advisory Collective™ (M.A.C.) is taking that model nationwide.
In building Café Momentum, our primary goal was to build a sustainable model that would provide youth exiting juvenile detention facilities with the support they need to truly thrive. Now, Momentum Advisory Collective is taking that model nationwide.
Momentum Advisory Collective is working to build more Café Momentum restaurants and programs across the country because we know that these young people will rise to whatever level of expectation is set for them - if provided with the appropriate resources, support, and opportunities.
We explore and vet prospective markets on an ongoing basis, with 2-3 selected annually. Suggestions for new markets may come from team members, market contacts, funders, supporters, Board members or members of the community.
In deciding whether to enter a new market to begin building out a Café Momentum program, the team evaluates against the following criteria:
Funding
Justice-Involved Youth Population
Juvenile Justice at a City and State Level
Community and Workforce
The Market
Expansion Process
M.A.C. partners with communities around the country to launch more Café Momentum programs so that more justice-involved youth have access to this transformative program. We have seen firsthand the ways in which the Café Momentum program plays a role in broadening the community’s understanding of how much potential justice-involved youth have and the power of unlocking it through this unique approach.
Current Markets
NOW OPEN
Our first Café Momentum location is in Dallas, Texas, and serves as a prototype and innovation hub for future locations.
Dallas, Texas (opened 2015)
Nashville, Tennessee (mini-program launched 2022)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (opened 2023)
EXPLORATION MARKETS
A critical part of our expansion process is the establishment of local Launch Committees in markets where there is a viable opportunity. The Launch Committee works alongside our team to raise the capital needed to establish the program, build programmatic partnerships, advocate for our model in the community and provide guidance on hiring the initial team.
To learn more about joining a Launch Committee in future markets, please contact Olivia Cole, at olivia@momentumadvisory.co
Atlanta, Georgia
Houston, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Baltimore, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Momentum Advisory Collective believes it can scale Café Momentum nationally and is looking to partner with communities across the country.
If you would like to learn more about our expansion or recommend a location for expansion, please complete this form and we'll be in touch.