- The video shows a small foretaste of the SOAR Café after the renovation.
- SOAR Cafe & Farms is a local nonprofit organization that provides housing, education, counseling, and employment opportunities to female survivors and victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking.
- The new location will open in September.
Jackson’s neighbors may remember Anna’s Gifts & Home Decor, which stood on the corner of Mechanic and Homewild for over 30 years. Now Anna’s looks a little different. “It’s a complete remodeling process,” says Michelle Cochran, CEO of SOAR Cafe & Farms. But Cochran doesn’t mean renovating what was, but rather what will be.
Mary Garcia, Cornerstone Properties and SOAR board member, says, “Because of the size of the building, we have a lot of opportunities to give people the opportunity to enjoy the building.” Soon, this cafe will once again serve Jackson’s neighbors while providing employment opportunities for female victims of human trafficking, addiction and sexual trauma.
WATCH SOAR’S STORY:
SOAR Cafe offers jobs in popular former cafe
“It’s a mentoring cafe, so for the women who come here to work, it’s employment. It’s about building skills. It’s a relationship. It’s a community,” says Cochran. She describes the jobs offered at the cafe as the capstone of SOAR’s program for women rebuilding their lives.
The new SOAR Café will include a variety of spaces for neighbors to enjoy. Garcia says, “We have a lot of space to offer different options. We have a main dining area where you can sit and be served, or we have an area where you can purchase a fancy coffee.” SOAR Café will also have retail and event space. Overall, the building will provide a place for neighbors to meet and a safe place for women to rebuild.
“We work to uplift and cheer up everyone we serve so they have something to look forward to, as well as amazing food,” says Cochran. SOAR Cafe will open in early September.
Want to see more local news? Visit the FOX47News Website.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Sign up for the newsletter which will be sent via email to your inbox.
Choose from these options: Neighborhood News, Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Headlines of the Day and Daily Forecasts.
Like us on Facebook
