Momentum Advisory Collective

Momentum Advisory Collective is on a mission to change lives, and we’re looking for leaders to join us. We’re hiring for two critical roles: 1️⃣ Director of Human Resources – Drive our HR strategy, foster a supportive culture and champion DEIB initiatives. 2️⃣ Community Engagement Manager – Build meaningful connections and lead conversations around youth justice.

Are you passionate about creating opportunities for justice-involved youth? Apply now and be part of something bigger. Visit momentumadvisory.co/careers to learn more.

Are you subscribed? Ignite is our monthly newsletter dedicated to igniting momentum for youth justice across the country. Swipe for a few highlights from our June issue.

Take action and stay informed by signing up for Ignite today! https://bit.ly/IGNITE-SIGNUP

Café Momentum Atlanta announced its arrival earlier this week with the first of four Momentum Rising pop-up dinners! After over 20 months in the making, we are beyond grateful for everyone who helped us get here. Our youth trained for two days, learning serving, cooking and plating skills. Held at Chef Kevin Gillespie’s renowned restaurant, Gunshow, the event brought community leaders and partners together to support our mission.

Thank you to our sponsors and .parts.company and everyone who joined us! We can't wait to tap into the community to uplift the lives of our youth. Stay tuned for more dates in July, August, and September.



Sponsors: .parts.company
Training Location: .space.atlanta
Dinner Location:
Photos: Gina Danals

Rethinking Youth Justice // States are shifting focus to divert low-risk youth from the court system, addressing their needs through support instead of punishment. Restorative justice and pre-arrest diversion programs show promising results, especially for marginalized youth. Mark Moran with Public News Service reports on how this this community-focused approach emphasizes rehabilitation over traditional methods.

For a deeper dive, read the full story here: https://t.ly/D88zJ

The Cafe Momentum team is headed to Wichita for the Elsewhere Music Fest & Conference this year! This not-for-profit festival features diverse music genres from hip hop to EDM, along with opportunities to learn about working in the music industry, innovative community organization, and how to drive positive change.

If you’re in town, join us! Stay tuned for more details on how to get involved, meet our Ambassadors and our team.

Learn more and buy tickets: elsewherefest.com

Thankful for our partners Stand Together, Thrive Restaurant Group and HomeGrown Kansas City!

Reposted from // Transforming lives one meal at a time, Café Momentum is not just a restaurant but a catalyst for change. Offering internships to justice-involved youth, it equips them with skills, education, and a support system for a brighter future.

Expanding to Atlanta, Café Momentum’s ‘Momentum Model’ redefines support for justice-impacted youth, proving that empowerment and individual attention can change lives.

As this model scales across the country, its success is demonstrating a compelling alternative to the current approach to juvenile justice. Read more at the 🔗 in bio.

REPOST FROM BitterSweet Monthly //

"After being nominated for best up-and-coming chef in Dallas, Café Momentum founder, Chad Houser, was invited by a friend to teach youth in detention how to make ice cream as part of a culinary competition at the local farmer’s market. 'The moment that I met these eight young men, I felt a tremendous sense of shame. I realized that I’d stereotyped them, judged them, labeled them before I ever met ‘em, and I was wrong.'

On the day of the competition, the young men from the Dallas County juvenile detention facilities stood among their fellow competitors—culinary college students—and when the public voted, one of Chad’s guys won. His flavor was strawberry, cantaloupe, and basil. After the elation subsided and Chad returned to his car, an affecting grief fell over him. 'My childhood and this young man’s story—our lives were dictated by choices that were made for us before we were born because of the color of our skin, the socioeconomic class we were born in, the part of town that we were born in, and the inequitable access to education, food, medical care. At his age, I was given every opportunity to succeed, fail, try again. And he was given one chance.' This heartbreak was the beginning of Café Momentum.

Read this month’s feature story at the link in our bio."

Photos by
Words by
Cafe Momentum

Happening tomorrow: May 10th at 1:00pm EST Café Momentum Atlanta is excited to join a virtual Reentry Roundtable hosted by the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice’s Office of Reentry Services. Hear directly from our Founder CEO, Chad Houser, along with other esteemed partners, as we discuss how we’re collaboratively shaping brighter futures for justice-involved youth through innovative programming. Don’t miss out on this important conversation!

Planning to join? Save this post to have the Zoom meeting ID handy!

Homeboy Industries

Meeting ID: 161 257 0803
Passcode: 519241
https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1612570803?pwd=NTRQeXhoWitZSmtmd0RVNmtQYmRwZz09

We're grateful to BitterSweet Monthly for capturing the spirit of Cafe Momentum. Read the article to see how support and second chances are changing lives. Step into our world, where food and community give justice impacted youth a chance to find purpose and grow. https://bittersweetmonthly.com/stories/cafe-momentum

Did you know?

Earlier this month, the Momentum team had the opportunity to team up with the Lewis Walker Institute at their DINE 4 JUSTICE fundraiser in Kalamazoo, MI, in support of the Youth Juvenile Justice Fellows program, which teaches local kids, ages 12 to 22, how to identify challenges within the juvenile justice system, develop strategies to reform them, and engage with community leaders and lawmakers. We’re grateful for the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the Café Momentum program, our Momentum Ambassadors and the incredible work they’re doing to . Thank you to the Lewis Walker Institute team for this opportunity and the space to nurture impactful conversations amongst Youth Fellows, our Ambassadors and our team.

To learn more, visit: https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/wmu-program-looks-to-reform-juvenile-justice-system-through-youth-voice

Research shows that juvenile incarceration significantly disrupts education and future prospects for youth. A 2015 study in The Quarterly Journal of Economics found that compared to their peers, approximately 1 in 5 young people who experience incarceration are significantly less likely to graduate from high school.

In an effort to further the educational goals of our youth, encourages young people to be enrolled in and attend classes, and to make academic progress toward a high school diploma or equivalency. By prioritizing education and growth, Café Momentum offers not just second chances, but perhaps the first real opportunity for many young individuals to thrive.

Read the full report: https://rb.gy/83dfgh

Hey Michiganders! Join us for an inspiring afternoon at DINE 4 JUSTICE, a fundraiser supporting the Lewis Walker Institute Youth Juvenile Justice Fellows program in Kalamazoo, MI! 🌟 On April 7th, Chad Houser (CEO & Founder of Café Momentum) and four of our ambassadors will be traveling to Kalamazoo to participate in this event and share perspective on the state of juvenile justice in our country. Registration closes April 5th! Click here to secure your spot: https://shorturl.at/dzJKM

Café Momentum Pittsburgh turns one today. In just one year, .pgh has not only earned a spot on ’s ‘Best New Restaurants’ list but also created a community where dreams and transformation are on the menu. From receiving significant support, like the $107,500 donation from the , to hosting impactful events and speakers that inspire our interns, Café Momentum Pittsburgh has woven a fabric of change that extends beyond their kitchen. Highlights like their participation in the PA Conference on Juvenile Justice, engaging initiatives like ’s ‘Week of Kindness’, and their involvement in the Black Girls Equity Summit illustrate our commitment to empowering justice-involved youth. Through each meal, event, and partnership, we’re crafting a narrative of hope, learning, and opportunity, proving that Café Momentum is more than a restaurant—it’s a movement for positive change.

A special shoutout to the Café Momentum Pittsburgh team for your exceptional dedication to Pittsburgh’s youth, driving real change and bright futures.

Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a beacon of hope, justice and dreams. At Momentum, his legacy fuels our dedication to transforming young lives caught in challenging systems. In his memory, we advocate for change, believing in a brighter, kinder future for all youth.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our program and mission, alongside Momentum Ambassadors, and our teams • On Thursday, December 7th, Georgia DJJ hosted a screening of the Café Momentum Documentary at Rockdale RYDC. The Café Momentum Advisory Collective™, a 501(c)3 organization, has partnered with community leaders throughout the United States to introduce an innovative model for juvenile justice. The founder of Café Momentum, Chad Houser, along with the Momentum Ambassadors, visited the facility to present the documentary and engage with the youth to discuss their program and career opportunities. Accompanying Mr. Houser was advocate and activist Mike "Killer Mike" Render , who delivered a compelling message to the youth. This meeting was facilitated by DJJ’s Office of Reentry Service.

🌟 Last Chance Alert! 🌟 Tomorrow is the FINAL DAY to secure your tickets for the 'Building Momentum' screening on December 7th in Atlanta, GA! This is more than just a film; it's an inspiring journey presented by Cafe Momentum, showcasing the untapped potential of justice-impacted youth and the supportive community around them.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this powerful and transformative evening at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Choose from two exclusive ticket options at 5:30 PM or 6:30 PM, and secure your spot before it's too late!

🎟️ Grab Your Tickets Now: https://bit.ly/BuildingMomentumFilmATL

Reflecting on 2023, we’re filled with gratitude. Our community, ambassadors, teams, interns, partners, and volunteers have been instrumental in navigating new opportunities this year. Each step forward in our mission is powered by your unwavering support. A heartfelt thank you to our Launch Committees in Denver, Atlanta and Houston, our partners who help us realize our vision and every supporter who follows our journey with curiosity and excitement. Your commitment is pivotal to our expansion and impact. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future.

Atlanta friends: We're excited to roll out the red carpet for 'Building Momentum'—an inspiring Cafe Momentum documentary spotlighting the untapped potential of justice-impacted youth. Join us at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Rights on December 7th for more than just a screening, but a gathering of hearts and minds looking to make a real difference.

Grab your tickets today! Be a pioneer in our movement and secure your seat for a night of powerful storytelling. Choose from two exclusive ticket options at 5:30 PM or 6:30 PM and secure your spot now: https://bit.ly/BuildingMomentumFilmATL

We are thrilled to share that Cafe Momentum is set to expand to Denver in 2024! This new chapter is possible thanks to a generous $1M grant from the Denver Broncos Foundation (), and we couldn't be more grateful.

Café Momentum Denver will provide a comprehensive support system to justice-involved youth through 24/7 case management, educational programs, mental health services and workforce development.

Our goal? To dismantle the cycle of incarceration and light a path of hope, dreams and transformation for justice-involved youth.

Read our full press release: https://bit.ly/3QSIe2o

Your likes, shares, and comments help us spread the word about this life-changing initiative!

2024 Momentum Ambassador applications are now live. We're on the lookout for past Café Momentum internships (and pop-up youth participants) who want to share their experiences and journey to inspire positive change across the country.

If you're over 18, have a passion for Café Momentum's mission and are committed to advocating for , we want you to apply for the program today.

Application Deadline: November 30, 2023
Learn more and apply at: www.momentumadvisory.co/momentumambassadors

Big thanks to La Catrina GRILL for the amazing night and food! We are so grateful for your support.

This week, Jessica Metcalf, our National VP of Development, shared Momentum's Q3 update, detailing exciting news for the Cafe Momentum family, including new hires and expansion plans.

In the update, she introduces Chef Star Maye, the new Chef de Cuisine at .nsh, and shares our progress in Atlanta, Denver and Houston.

Read the full update here: https://bit.ly/3rASBOo

Sign up to receive these quarterly Momentum updates: https://bit.ly/MAC-News