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CAFÉ MOMENTUM
DALLAS , TX
Changing direction in life isn ’ t always easy . Café Momentum , a culinary training program for juvenile offenders in Dallas , teaches young people the skills they need to perform in the restaurant business with hands-on training from a professional chef . Volunteers at the organization further lend the inspiration and support needed to help them get their lives headed in the right direction .
After hearing the organization ’ s vision , associates in Baird ’ s Dallas branch along with Mark Stevanovic , Director of Baird ’ s North Texas Market , chose to volunteer alongside Café Momentum interns in the “ dish pit ” − one of the less glamorous jobs in the kitchen . “ I really believe in this program ,” said Mark . “ I find myself connecting with the interns while we ’ re scrubbing dishes and talking about all of the great things life has to offer when you work hard and do the right thing .”
THE BAIRD TEAM DOESN ’ T JUST TALK THE TALK , THEY WALK IT .
CHAD HOUSER CHEF AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CAFÉ MOMENTUM
“ The Baird team doesn ’ t just talk the talk , they walk it ,” said Chad Houser , a professional chef and the executive director at Café Momentum . “ Not only are they providing mentorship and camaraderie for the interns but by working in the dish pit , they show them that we ’ re all in this together .”
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Mark Stevanovic ( right ) scrubs dishes in the “ dish pit ” with a
Café Momentum intern .