Cafe Hope

Café Hope supports young people ages 16 - 24 who are disconnected from the education system and workforce, yet have a desire to gain meaningful employment, care for their siblings, secure reliable transportation, gain confidence, and be active and engaged community members. Our students are motivated, eager, and driven to create better lives for themselves and their families. Completing high-quality skills training and earning industry credentials is one of the best generators of economic mobility and independence, creating pathways into quality jobs while meeting the needs of local employers. Café Hope offers the necessary life skills and occupational training needed for young people to make hospitality a viable career path and then connects students with jobs that provide them with experience and upward mobility and fills an employment gap in one of our community’s top sectors. 

Café Hope is the only program of its kind located on the Westbank and serving the young people who live there. While other similar programs exist on the Eastbank, poor public transportation options, a lack of personal transportation, and long commutes limit access to these opportunities. Café Hope’s workforce training program focuses on developing and impacting the holistic well-being of our students. The program combines vocational training with life skills classes, support and referrals services for social, emotional, financial, and other needs, job placement coordination, and constant support, counseling, and advocacy to assist students even after graduating from the program. 

Over a 12-week period, Cafe Hope students receive:

- Work readiness and life skills including responsibility, communication, attitude, teamwork, empathy, and other soft skills that will aid them in their professional and personal lives.

- Internship inside Cafe Hope's fully functioning restaurant and kitchen and coffee shop, learning both front- and back-of-house skills as well as catering operations, exposing students to various career pathways. 

- Industry certifications including ServSafe, Responsible Vendors, and American Hotel and Lodging Association Certified Guest Service Professional.

- Job placement coordination that includes resume building, practicing interview skills, knowing how to dress for work, and completing job applications.

- Support services such as benefits enrollment and transportation assistance and referrals to community partners for additional needs including dependent care, mental health support, and substance abuse education.

Testimonials

"I feel God lead me to Café Hope and for that I am grateful." Alexis

"My dream is to own a bakery one day. After Café Hope, I quickly got a job making king cakes and donuts. It's a step in the right direction of fulfilling my dream." Norman

"I am so thankful to the staff at Café Hope for everything they have done for me." Olivia

"I don't know where I would be without Café Hope. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life and now I have a career with The Steamboat Natchez." Byron