2020-11-09
Chef Chad Houser chats with a Cafe Momentum intern | Cafe Momentum [Official Photo]
by Amy McCarthy Nov 9, 2020, 11:30am CST – EATER DALLAS
Nearly six years after opening its brick-and-mortar restaurant, Cafe Momentum is, improbably, back where it started: doing pop-up dinners. The organization, which employs young people who have been incarcerated by the juvenile justice system to run a fine dining restaurant, got its start hosting local pop-ups at venues across the city before landing in its own home in Downtown Dallas in 2015.
Founded by chef Chad Houser, who got the idea for Cafe Momentum after working alongside incarcerated youth at an ice cream fundraiser in 2011, the organization has demonstrated a proven model for both running a restaurant and positively impacting the lives of systems-involved youth, or young people who have been involved with the juvenile justice or child welfare systems. Since its first pop-up dinners in 2011, the organization has seen its interns beat the odds that are thoroughly stacked against them.
Cafe Momentum, even in its most rudimentary format, has never been just a restaurant. Originally started to provide a path to economic independence and job training for formerly incarcerated youth, the organization now offers a host of social services and other resources for the young people that it employs. It helps its workers apply for assistance, find public transportation, and, in many cases, provide for their families. In 2019, Cafe Momentum even launched its own high school after recognizing that the young people it served were struggling to find a place in the public school system. This year alone, even during the pandemic, the school has graduated more than a dozen students.
Now, despite COVID-19, Cafe Momentum is planning to go national. The plan is to bring its acclaimed internship program, which provides paying jobs to systems-involved youth and a host of social services, while teaching them to work in the service industry. During their 12-month stint at Cafe Momentum, interns rotate through virtually every job in a restaurant, from dishwasher to cook to front-of-house staffer. Compared to the broader population of formerly incarcerated youth, the 1,000 or so young people who’ve passed through Cafe Momentum’s doors over the past nine years are dramatically less likely to end up in the system again.
To this end, Houser spent almost all of 2019 traveling to introduce the country to the Cafe Momentum model. After teaming up with the National Football League, the organization hosted dinners in Nashville ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft, working with systems-involved youth there to showcase how much of a difference the organization can make in just a few days of work with young people. “We had the opportunity to showcase the public-facing component of our model,” Houser says. “People walk in and have one of the best meals of their entire lives, and it changes them.”
Cafe Momentum staffers pose with NFL players at a pop-up dinner hosted at the 2019 Super Bowl. | Cafe Momentum [Official Photo]
Later, Houser brought Cafe Momentum interns to Miami to cook at events surrounding Super Bowl LIV. The dinners are a Trojan horse of sorts, using delicious dishes like smoked fried chicken and coffee-rubbed strip steak to make philanthropists, policymakers, and potential donors care about the futures of the program’s participants.
“It’s been a great reminder of who we are, what we stand for, and why we’re here,” Houser says. “It reminds me of the very first pop-up we did in 2011, when everyone was just awestruck at what these kids could do. Seeing that same reaction across the country has been amazing, and invigorating.”
To bring its unique approach to both operating a restaurant and juvenile justice reform nationwide, Cafe Momentum has teamed up with the Stand Together Foundation. Established by Charles Koch in 2003, the organization functions as a funding and expertise network for nonprofits like Cafe Momentum, which focus on what executive director Evan Feinberg calls a “bottom-up” approach to center the autonomy of those who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, or incarceration.
“Most well-intentioned people out there that are administering programs like this have the wrong mental model about people who they’re trying to serve,” Feinberg says. “They have the wrong opinion of people who are experiencing poverty or have been affiliated with the criminal justice system. Their belief is that individuals are broken, they’re deficient, they’re in need of expert help from someone on the outside. Cafe Momentum doesn’t work that way.”
And amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shuttered or stymied most of the country’s restaurants, Cafe Momentum has charged forward with its plans to bring its proven model to cities across the country. “This work was crucial to begin with because of the dysfunctional way that juvenile justice works all over the country,” Houser says. “But coming through a global pandemic that is disproportionately impacting communities of color, that makes our push to expand that much more important.”
The young people that Cafe Momentum employs are, often, forgotten and failed by the institutions that are intended to serve them. They’re children who have been incarcerated, experienced extreme poverty, and are likely behind several years in school.
“The system officially calls these kids throwaways, and insists that the only option is to lock them up over and over again,” Feinberg says. “What’s so different about Cafe Momentum is this deep belief in the people they serve. They’re trusted to run one of the best restaurants in Dallas, and they’re able to take great pride in that incredible accomplishment. The problem is that there are so few programs across the country that take that approach.”
Cafe Momentum founder Chad Houser | Cafe Momentum [Official Photo]
Like the original Cafe Momentum, future outposts of the restaurant will offer the same suite of services, ranging from anger management training to financial literacy education and career advice, to teens in new cities. The organization will bring its near-decade of experience partnering with systems-involved youth, its deep understanding of what works best for them on a human level, and its restaurant operations training method for young people who don’t have a typical culinary background.
To bring those practices to life in new cities, Houser and his team will work with local chefs and community organizations to improve the lives of systems-involved youth. The organization will share its wealth of knowledge, best practices, and systems with people interested in starting their own restaurants like Cafe Momentum, while the Stand Together Foundation will help these fledgling restaurants secure funding and build relationships with donors in their communities.
It’s not clear exactly what these new Cafe Momentum restaurants will look like. Maybe they’ll have slightly different names, or serve a cuisine that is a better fit for their city than what works in Dallas. But what will remain the same is Cafe Momentum’s commitment to proving that these young people are just as capable of turning out high-quality food and exceptional service as any other worker in the restaurant industry.
“We’re flexible enough, but one of the defining characteristics of Cafe Momentum, and one of the things we’re not willing to compromise on, is that the people we work with can and will rise to whatever expectation is set for them,” Houser says.
For now, Houser isn’t quite ready to say where the next Cafe Momentum will be, but he’s got big plans for the future, some of which are already in the works. The organization recently launched some virtual programming for young people in Nashville, and “active talks” are underway to bring the restaurant to multiple cities across the country in the coming months.
“Our goal is to change the narrative,” Houser says. “We want to rebuild the conversation about what juvenile justice should look like, and what kinds of opportunities these young men and women deserve.”
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As Founding Partner of BBMG, Raphael unites branding, sustainability and innovation to help organizations create sustainable growth and positive impact in the world.
An expert in brand strategy, public affairs and social innovation, Raphael is a passionate champion for a new approach to branding that’s driven by empathy, collaboration, shared values and mutual relationships.
He has directed branding and marketing programs for clients such as AWAY Travel, CLIF Bar, Eileen Fisher, Estée Lauder Companies, Johnson & Johnson, MAC Cosmetics, Macy’s, Inc., Nike, Nespresso, Target, The North Face and Walmart. He has also worked with many leading nonprofits including ASPCA, Education Reimagined, Giffords, OceanX, PBS, Rainforest Alliance and Urban Teachers, as well as the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Einhorn Collaborative, Ford Foundation, Kresge Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Raphael has an extensive background in political communications, getting his start as a press aide to Texas Governor Ann W. Richards. He also served as communications director for Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and as press secretary for U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin).
Raphael received his BA in Philosophy with honors from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves as an adjunct professor of marketing and communications at the NYU Stern School of Business, and he sits on the advisory boards of Sustainable Brands, the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business and Earth Guardians.
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Greg Lindsay is an urban tech fellow at Cornell Tech’s Jacobs Institute, where he explores AI and augmented reality (AR) at city scale. He is also a senior fellow of MIT’s Future Urban Collectives Lab, a senior advisor to Climate Alpha, and a non-resident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Strategy Initiative.
He’s advised organizations such as Intel, Samsung, IKEA, Starbucks, Audi, Hyundai, Tishman Speyer, André Balazs Properties, Emaar, and Expo 2020, along with numerous G20 government entities. He was previously the urbanist-in-residence at URBAN-X — BMW MINI’s urban tech accelerator — the director of applied research at NewCities, and founding director of strategy at its mobility-focused offshoot CoMotion.
He speaks frequently about cities, mobility, innovation, and globalization, including appearances at 10 Downing Street, the United States Military Academy, Sandia National Laboratories, the OECD, Harvard Business School, the MIT Media Lab, and the Aspen Ideas Festival. He’s been cited as an expert on the future of cities, technology, and mobility by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, USA Today, CNN, NPR, and the BBC. He is co-author of the 2011 critically acclaimed international bestseller Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next.
Greg is a two-time Jeopardy! champion (and the only human to go undefeated against IBM’s Watson).
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Ross heads up RBA, where he transitioned from private equity to the creative side of the business finding his passion creating Work That Wins™ for notable clients such as Golden Chick, CBRE, JLL, TAC Air, Swiss American, Southern Land Company, Harwood, TopGolf, FanDuel, and more.
Outside of the office, Ross spends time with his family, practices martial arts and Tai Chi, takes photos, flies drones, plays video games, and travels the world.
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Case Kenny is an entrepreneur, mindfulness expert, host and founder of the top 25 Apple podcast New Mindset, Who Dis. Beloved by some of today’s biggest celebrities including Hailey Bieber, Viola Davis, Sophia Bush, John Cena, and Lucy Hale and featured on Good Morning America, you might recognize him from his viral coffee cup and post-it quotes on Instagram, which have been shared by millions and featured by The Today Show, Complex, Forbes, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and many more.
Created in 2018, Kenny’s podcast New Mindset, Who Dis features his short, no-B.S.take on all things mindfulness in a relatable way, empowering people to be happier and live more fulfilling lives by changing their mindsets in all areas of life spanning from self worth + empowerment to dating + relationships, career advice and more. The podcast has received over 6,000 5-star reviews and accolades such as Spotify Editor’s Choice, iHeart Radio Top 10 Health, Deezer and Stitcher Radio Editor’s Choice and others, and has held a position as a top 25 podcast on both the Apple Podcasts and Spotify charts for the past 3 years.
As part of the podcast, Kenny also produces special “music x mindfulness” episodes, where he collaborates with top artists + DJs including Martin Garrix, Gryffin, Two Friends, Cheat Codes, Frank Walker + Sam Feldt to bring mindfulness to life in an energizing and unique way for listeners.
Kenny is also the creator of the best-selling mindfulness journals The New Mindset Journal, But First, Inner Peace, Unbothered and Single Is Your Superpower, and digital journals including Closure and Clarity. He is also the author of That’s Bold of You.
Listen to New Mindset, Who Dis on all streaming platforms or visit newmindsetwhodis.com for more.
For the latest news and information, follow Case Kenny on Instagram @case.kenny.
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Rod Santomassimo is the founder and president of the Massimo Group, CRE Perform, and CRE Investor. Coach.
The Massimo Group is the world’s #1 commercial real estate broker coaching organization, assisting over 4,200 CRE professionals in building the businesses and lives they desire.
The author of four best-selling books – Brokers Who Dominate, Teams Built to Dominate, and Knowing Isn’t Doing, which became America’s #1 sales book when it launched. His most recent book, Dominators of Commercial Real Estate Brokerage
A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Rod earned his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, where he is a two-time recipient of the Duke University Fuqua School of Business Impact Alumni of the Year Award; Globe St. has also designated him as a “Best Boss” in CRE.
Rod has been published and/or featured in several general business periodicals, including but not limited to Entrepreneur.com, The Good Men Project, Thrive Global, and the New York Real Estate Journal. In addition, he is CCIM and a patented inventor.
Rod has recently been recognized as the “CREAI Guy” as he has shifted his focus to integrating artificial intelligence to accelerate CRE brokerage success within Massimo’s coaching programs.
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Rand Stagen is the CEO of the Stagen Leadership Academy. Established in 1999, the Academy trains leaders from across North America who are committed to long-term personal development and using their organizational platforms for positive impact. Prior to founding Stagen, Rand was a co-founder and Group Publisher of Presido Media, a publisher of newspapers and magazines in the Southwest.
A passionate advocate for elevating humanity through business, he is a co-founder and global board member of Conscious Capitalism. Rand is also a board member of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, a think tank developing solutions to overcome the hyper polarization that threatens American democracy. A sought-after resource within YPO, he has been delivering programs at the chapter, regional, and international level (including multiple Global Leadership Conferences) for almost two decades. He lives in Dallas with his wife and two daughters.
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A culinary and entertainment destination inspired by the local community. At Legacy Food Hall, you won’t just find a little bit of everything. You’ll find a lot of everything. Celebrated local chefs and restaurateurs source the highest quality ingredients for more than 20 eateries and multiple craft bars. With carefully curated menus inspired by cultures from around the globe, it’s a culinary experience that’s out of this world. Shake things up with a stirring array of craft cocktails and delicious libations. Sip and savor at two large cocktail bars, an intimate wine bar, and an award-winning craft brewery that can make any hour a happy one. Legacy Food Hall may be called a food hall, but the menu doesn’t stop there. It’s almost too easy to find yourself drawn into the Lexus Box Garden for live bands, sporting events, dancing, movies, and more. It literally sets the stage for an incredible experience.
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Evoke the era of glamorous travel at our hotel in Dallas, where classic style and modern elegance are juxtaposed in a chic Uptown location. Our historic, 1923 Art Deco building and Uptown Dallas hotel suites are steps from business, museums, boutique shopping, cutting-edge cuisine, and stimulating nightlife. Our onsite Perle on Maple Restaurant serves innovative dishes that showcase inspiring cuisine with a distinctive Texas twist. Dallas meetings and events are hosted with flair in 7,000 square feet of ballroom venues in Dallas, TX, including Dorothy Draper-designed spaces. Each of our 176 guest rooms and suites feature warm cinnabar-and-charcoal color palettes, modern amenities, custom mahogany, and marble-topped furniture. In your downtime, relax at our outdoor pool.
3033 Fairmount St, Dallas, TX 75201
The Marriott Dallas Uptown offers personalized service, thoughtful amenities and an unbeatable location less than two miles from the Dallas Arts District. Walk from our hotel to trendy restaurants and the scenic Katy Trail, Dallas’s most active biking and pedestrian trail. We’re also close to over five million square feet of Dallas’s best office space. Love Field Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport are within easy reach. Recharge in our rooftop outdoor pool and fully equipped fitness center before indulging in delicious cuisine at our chic restaurant and bar. Unwind after a busy day in Dallas in thoughtfully designed hotel rooms and suites offering plush bedding and homelike perks. Host a meeting in one of our six event venues, which feature advanced audiovisual technology, or plan an unforgettable event on our 14th-floor rooftop event space with 360-degree views of Dallas.
