An earlier version of this story originally appeared in The Southerner.
In the heart of Midtown Atlanta lies Café Momentum, a restaurant where you’ll find elevated Southern American fare like pan-seared catfish, bison short ribs, and fried green tomatoes. But there’s something else on the menu too: Breaking the cycle of youth recidivism and transforming the lives of teens who’ve been involved in the justice system.
Founded 10 years ago in Dallas, Café Momentum is a nonprofit — now with restaurant locations in Pittsburgh and Denver, too — that gives work opportunities, education, and other support to young people between the ages of 15 and 19 who’ve previously been in juvenile detention. The restaurant’s Atlanta location opened last spring.
It offers a 12-month paid internship program that teaches far more than knife skills. Youth work every station in the restaurant, while also receiving wraparound support, including mentorship, education, case management and mental health services,” said the restaurant’s James Beard-nominated chef de cuisine Joshua Lee. The goal, he said, is to offer “life skills, education, and employment.” As the interns move further through the program, they earn pay bumps, according to Eater Atlanta, and are given job-placement help when the internship is over, according to the organization’s website.
Lee said he joined Café Momentum when it opened because the approach is effective. “I wanted to be part of something that doesn’t just talk about [change], but actively creates it through real opportunities,” he said, adding that education is key to keeping youth out of detention centers. A restaurant, he went on, is “the perfect environment” for teaching important life and job skills: “It’s fast-paced, team-oriented and full of teachable moments that you can actually bounce back from.”
Cafe Momentum aims to specifically address youth recidivism. According to the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, youth recidivism in the state sits at around 36% as of 2024 — higher than the adult rate of 27%. Georgia has the fourth-largest number of incarcerated individuals in the country.
The restaurant opened in Atlanta, Lee said, because it has a significant population of justice-involved youth who need for opportunities and support. The restaurant told Eater Atlanta last year that it hopes to hire 60 to 80 local teens annually.
Intern Sam said the internship program has already taught him a lot. (Sam’s first name has been changed and last name is not being included as per Café Momentum’s policy for press with their interns.)
“I’ve learned how to prep, cook on the grill, run expo and serve,” he explained. “Most importantly, I learned how to work on a team, communicate better and stay calm under pressure.” But the education has gone beyond job skills: “I’ve learned how to take responsibility and how to show up for myself and others,” he added.
Part of what has made the program so helpful, Sam said, is that it has taken him beyond what’s familiar and has taught him determination. “Everything about this opportunity, from it being far away from home to the caliber of people we serve, has pushed me way beyond my comfort zone,” he said. “Consistency and focus happen when you remain determined to change.”
The education the café offers extends past its kitchen and into its leather-backed booths. The organization aims to allow the public to develop an understanding of life post-incarceration and the uphill battle young people face to grow as individuals.
“One big misconception is that these kids are bad or dangerous,” Lee said. “In reality, most are system-impacted because of poverty, trauma, or lack of support — not because they’re inherently violent or criminal.” Plus, he added, what actually works to fix problems isn’t more detention, but: “support, stability and opportunity.”
Diner Jen was drawn in by the restaurant’s goal. “I was intrigued by the combination of fine dining and social change,” she said. “I wanted to support a mission that matters. The story and the young people brought me in, but the delicious meals and drinks are what keep me coming back.” (Jen’s name has been changed per her request to be anonymous, in keeping with the Southerner’s policy.)
She said the visibility the restaurant gives to formerly incarcerated teens is essential to destigmatize youth detention and create momentum for legislative and other change.
Recent and ongoing juvenile justice legislation in Georgia has aimed to facilitate social reform for youth, provide formative opportunities into their adulthood and combat recidivism. In February, the Georgia House moved to research raising the age that young offenders could be tried as adults from 16 to 17.
As that and other changes continue to unfold, Jen said, it’s useful to have a place that shows just how far formerly incarcerated teens can go if they’re actually given a chance. “Places like Café Momentum offer a different narrative — one that sees potential instead of problems. We need more spaces that empower young people instead of giving up on them.”
