The mural at Mission Possible Cafe sets the tone for the location’s mission. The entire cafe will be run by participants in the Phoenix Rescue Mission’s vocational training program. (Photo by Tynin Fries/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX — The new Mission Possible Cafe is opening in central Phoenix and is giving its employees the valuable work experience they need.
The Phoenix Rescue Mission is expanding its vocational training program by opening the Mission Possible Cafe on Oct. 2. The cafe will be primarily run by program participants in order to give them real-life work experience that aims to help them find a job outside the program.
The Phoenix Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization that serves the homeless community in Arizona with many services, including their vocational program that helps men and women get job experience through hands on learning.
[masterslider id=”47″]The cafe is an expansion to existing vocational programs like Mission Possible Cookies, which teaches employees how to bake and handle food. For Michelle Rader, of Phoenix, the program was life-changing.
“I never worked in the food business before coming here at all,” Rader said. “But I got that opportunity and started to learn computer skills and how to work with other people. This place saved my life.”
Rader graduated from the vocational program at Phoenix Rescue Mission in December 2016. Now, she is continuing to work at Mission Possible Cookies as the social enterprise coordinator and part of the rescue mission staff.
“Some of these girls have not worked before so all of this (training) is just giving them skills they need,” Rader said. “It’s giving them experience to get out there and be able to get a job and support their families. I love that I did it and now I get to be a part of this (program).”
With a grand opening set, Head Chef Kyle Jordan of Phoenix is working to prepare the kitchen and staff for working in a restaurant. Jordan came to the project after volunteering for five months at the rescue mission and is excited for the work the restaurant will do not only for the community but for the employees.
“This vocational training is going to mean a lot and give a lot of people a second chance. I think they will embrace that,” Jordan said.
Mission Possible Cafe will have a grand opening on Oct. 2 and will be open to the public from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. The cafe is located at 1516 W. Van Buren St.