The Dojo Cafe

The DOJO’s mission is to create cafes designed by and for underserved communities that serve ethnically diverse drink and food, where local residents can congregate, show off their talents, network, grow, advance social good, and develop social capital within the community. Each cafe solicits the voices, thoughts, diversity and talents of the community through its platform of events, cultural lear

ning experiences, workforce development, and online expression and exposure. The DOJO will provide a venue for Millennials and Minorities (M&M) and diverse cultures to address the lack of safe, culturally reflective, and productive spaces. Everything within and about The DOJO reflects its 5 core values: community, diversity, integrity, genuine dialogue, and (personal) growth. These values are our lifeblood: from the interactions of staff with customers and the community, to the events, workforce development, internships, and products we sell. M&M’s and residents will be hired to run the cafe and its events, as well as offering local student internship opportunities. Community members will have the opportunity to share their talents through shows and competitions, such as poetry/spoken word/storytelling nights, rap battles, and dance-a-thons: all events will be streamed live, providing exposure of their voice, thoughts, and talents. Artists within the community will display and sell their art and products within the cafe, at its events, and within The DOJO online marketplace. Additionally, our drink and food products will represent the different countries of each community, made with locally sourced ingredients, and the food will be produced through local community partnerships. Eventually there will be DOJO’s throughout the United States in underserved communities empowering M&M’s and local residents to achieve their dreams. The DOJO’s will provide a network of safe spaces serving as a platform for their voices to be heard, messages to be spread, and talents to be seen. Profits will be shared with its employees via profit sharing, and the community via the creation of new M&M startups, mentorships, sponsorships, and connections. This is how we will achieve our Vision of changing the way help happens.