Screenshot from Café Momentum’s Facebook page
CEO Chad Houser of Café Momentum, which is building an East Dallas flagship, was recently recognized as an honoree for the inaugural TIME Visionaries list.
The list recognizes “changemakers helping children and young people reach their full potential,” according to the TIME website.
In 2015, Houser founded Café Momentum, a nonprofit restaurant aimed to give young adults a second chance. The restaurant offers 12-month paid internships as well as resources ranging from academic support to mental health services to previously incarcerated teens.
Café Momentum has expanded to Atlanta, Denver and Pittsburgh and has served more than 1,700 young people. Their mission statement is “to transform young lives by equipping our community’s justice-involved youth with life skills, education and employment opportunities to help them achieve their full potential, according to its website.
Houser has previously been awarded the 2025 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year Award and the CNN Hero in 2018 for his work at Café Momentum.
Café Momentum is building a new East Dallas flagship that is set to open in January 2027, according to CultureMap. The center, located at 1000 Oak St., will be a center for nonprofit operations and training as well as the new restaurant space.
Café Momentum is located at 1510 Pacific Ave. More information and ways to support can be found on their website.
