Downtown nonprofit cafe teaches teens life skills
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Cafe Momentum on Forbes Ave. in Downtown. Photo: Alexis Johnson/Axios
A Downtown nonprofit cafe is offering yearlong employment to at-risk kids, giving them financial support and critical life skills.
Why it matters: Cafe Momentum is giving young people who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system growth opportunities through employment in its kitchen and dining area.
How it works: The nonprofit is funded by donations and grants through partnerships with Allegheny Foundation, Bank of America, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and more. Teens ages 15-19 who have been through juvenile courts or probation receive 12-month paid internships, during which they rotate through stations and positions in the cafe.
- The kids are often referred to the program through a court order, but can also be referred through schools, social services or mental health providers.
- The program pays $13-16 an hour and provides free transportation to and from work.
- Throughout the year, the teens also take free courses in life skills like financial literacy, and have access to 24/7 mental health support, tutoring, free meals and a basic needs pantry with hygiene and personal items.
What they're saying: Cheyenne Tyler, executive director of Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh, said they are hoping to change the way people see young people who have made mistakes.
- "We are showing them that our young people not only hit the bar of expectation, but far exceed it whenever they are given the support, the skills, and the resources necessary to do that," Tyler tells Axios.
Zoom in: The chain, founded in 2015 by James Beard winner Chad Houser in Dallas, also has locations in Atlanta and Denver. Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh became its second location in March of 2023 and has since served over 120 interns.
Intern Martez Butler said the program helped to expose him to a new environment.
- "I get to see new people learn new things every day and experience life a little bit more. You have people every day who will care for you and love you."
Dig in: We tried a variety of dishes, starting with a beet and Brussels salad ($14).
- For dinner, try the blackened salmon with creamed spinach, fingerling potatoes and Dijon cream ($36).
- The smoked fried chicken, a Cafe Momentum signature dish, comes with mashed potatoes, collard greens, a buttermilk biscuit and black pepper gravy ($32).
If you go: Cafe Momentum is located at 268 Forbes Ave., just on the edge of Market Square.
- The restaurant offers lunch Tuesday-Friday 11am-2pm and dinner Thursday-Saturday 5-9pm.