Old Skool Cafe is a faith-based, violence prevention program, providing marketable employment skills in the restaurant industry to at-risk youth ages 16-22.
Breaking the cycle of incarceration. Creating communities and reconnection to society.
Old Skool Cafe provides the opportunity to transform the loop of incarceration and recidivism into healthy life loops. Youth come from jail, foster care or situations of abuse and neglect into a supportive environment. Youth create bonds at Old Skool Cafe and form a foundation that will be there to support them through the ups and downs of their life long after they leave Old Skool Cafe.
As of 2014, the recidivism rate for youth at Old Skool Cafe is 10% in comparison to the national rate of 76% according to Bureau of Justice Statistics, which is significantly lower.
Our youth and their growth over the past several years is our most significant accomplishment.
92%
have earned
high school diplomas
94%
youth who have completed our program are employed or focused solely on school
13
have started attending college since 2010
A Brief History of Old Skool Cafe
Teresa worked as corrections officer in Los Angeles and had a passion to find a solution to the devastating problem of incarceration and hopelessness among our children. Prayed and asked God to give her a vision for a real, long-term solution to the root causes of incarceration, violence and poverty.
Moved to Mexico to learn Spanish and the culture.
Moved to San Francisco and ran a gang prevention program at a middle school. Funding was cut for the program so being laid off, Teresa worked for SFUSD as a family service manager helping low-income families access support and services.
2001 - 2003
2004 - 2005
Teresa got the vision for Old Skool Cafe (OSC) and started work in her San Francisco apartment while holding a full time position with SFUSD. Officially received 501(c)(3) status in 2005.
Teresa started working out of her San Francisco apartment with youth in 2004
2006
First Gala event with 250 people. Showcasing what a night at the Old Skool Cafe would look like if we could get our own building.
Continued to do pop up events in spaces that Teresa could get for free as well as partner with caterers to serve at events like birthdays, weddings and fundraising events.
OSC popped up in a few restaurants on Sundays to do our signature Gospel Brunch which caused our following to grow.
2011
January: A church heard about the work we were doing and offered us a space with low rent which allowed us to move into our own permanent space.
August: OSC started a major renovation project to turn the space into a restaurant.
2012
OSC officially opened to the public as a San Francisco restaurant in the Bayview Hunter’s Point neighborhood in April.
Old Skool Cafe officially opened doors to the public as a San Francisco restaurant in the Bayview Hunter’s Point neighborhood in April 2012.
2014
Due to an amazing community of support and generous donors who believe in our youth and mission, OSC was able to purchase our building so that we can have the stability of remaining an anchor in the community.
