Congratulations to Urbean Café, celebrating its 10th anniversary this month! Ten great years of serving our community, our clients, and of course, delicious food and coffee.

Throughout the last decade, Urbean Cafe has provided a successful workforce development program for returning and recovering citizens while serving up some of the best coffee and café-style food in town. On a busy day, the Café serves up to 600 customers at the Robert K. Pfaff Metro Transit Center.

By providing training, hands-on experience, time management skills, and other relevant experiences, Urbean Cafe has now helped more than 100 individuals accomplish countless successful aspects of workforce readiness, and re-entry.

Ten years is quite the achievement, and we have so much to celebrate. In the last 10 years, Urbean Cafe has contributed more than $5.5 million to the local economy. Additionally, a less than 2% employee recidivism rate has saved Ohio taxpayers $2.6 million in direct costs.

Successful employees experience greater self-worth, self-confidence, and sense of belonging in the community.

John Wiseman serves as the Broken Chains Ministry business manager and oversees operations at the Cafe. When BCM clients ask about being employed at the Café, John always responds, “It’s an opportunity for us to invest in your life.”

“When I came to Broken Chains Ministry, not only did they help me with a job, but they became like a family to me, a better family than I had ever had,” a Café employee stated.

As local businesses recover from COVID-19 closures, Wiseman says the community can best help Urbean Cafe by praying for the staff’s recovery and re-entry.

To donate directly to the continued success of Urbean Cafe, visit our DONATE page, and note the designation Urbean Café when you submit your gift. Or mail a donation by check to: P.O. Box 502, Akron, Ohio 44309. For questions, CONTACT US.