Spanish Conversation Table: Highland Park

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Curt's Cafe

At Curt’s you’ll find freshly brewed coffee, homemade pastries, inspired sandwiches, soups, and salads in a warm and welcoming home away from home. We strive to use local products and vendors, and we make everything possible from scratch. We offer free WiFi and provide space for community meetings, book clubs, church groups, knitting groups — whatever you need! Just call the cafes for more information. For the past 12 years, the programs and people of Curt’s Café have been transforming lives. Over 650 students have completed our carefully structured program of work and life skills training. Since opening in 2012 only 5% of our students have returned to prison. State and National rates are both above 80%. We are so proud of our students and the futures they are building after completing our program. Our student trainees, aged 15 to 24, are living in at-risk situations, such as involvement with the judicial system, being unhoused, experiencing food insecurity, or having dropped out of school. These young adults are determined to create a positive future for themselves. For them, gaining and maintaining employment will significantly contribute to their success. At Curt’s, we offer opportunities by teaching essential soft skills and assisting individuals in securing employment. Our curriculum includes culinary techniques and addresses educational gaps to help students gain confidence and become job-ready. Instruction takes place in various settings: on café lines, in classrooms, and through one-on-one mentoring or outside cafés. Students are referred to us by probation officers, the Youth Job Center, social service agencies, police officers, city outreach personnel, and family or friends of graduates and current students. After completing their training, we support students in finding jobs and help them transition into full-time employment.