You may have noticed over the past couple of months that the Cornerstone Café and the Coffee Cart are being staffed by smiling, friendly interns from CitySquare’s Hospitality Program. Let me tell you why this is so cool.

A few years ago, I took Rev. Paul Rasmussen to the CitySquare’s Opportunity Center, which was under construction at the time. Rev. Larry James, CEO of CitySquare and a fellow United Methodist Minister told us about his vision for a place where programs would exist to fight poverty and give people the tools to be independent. Rev. James cast a vision of a community where 50 people experiencing homelessness would live in tiny homes and could receive the support services they needed.

Together Rev. James and Rev. Rasmussen dreamed of a partnership between Highland Park United Methodist Church and CitySquare that would have an impact on the city and give our congregants opportunities to take an active role in making Dallas a better place.

Fast-forward five years and CitySquare has thriving programs addressing health, housing and hope for North Texas’ working poor.

One of these programs is the WorkPaths Program that trains neighbors in the practical and vital skills needed to get a job paying a living wage. Their Hospitality Training program prepares neighbors to work in restaurants, coffee shops, catering business, and more. It’s an incredible program that is changing lives across our city.

This Sunday we will celebrate the opening of the CitySquare Café at HPUMC. All of the people behind the bar, who pour your coffee or serve up tasty snacks each week are part of CitySquare’s WorkPaths program. You will meet people like Herman who needed a second chance after serving time in prison and Judith who needed job training after a long illness. On top of that, all the proceeds from the Café will be poured back into the Hospitality Program. That means by buying a coffee or breakfast at the café you are helping neighbors get jobs and support their families.

We hope you will visit this incredible space and get to know the CitySquare neighbors working there.

Hear their stories.

See what great employees they would be.

And buy a coffee.

Together, we will be fighting poverty one cup at a time.