The Transformation Project, an organization that works with incarcerated youth, is under contract to buy the former office of Ethos, at 907 Main St. in downtown Westbrook.

The nonprofit organization is looking to establish a cafe, bakery and catering service on the first floor that would be mostly staffed by young-adult offenders who are preparing to re-enter the community.

The building’s second floor would be turned into dormitory-style housing for those accepted into the program.

Ken Hawley, the executive director of the Transformation Project, said the faith-based organization works on mentoring and other programs inside Long Creek Youth Development Center with the Maine Department of Corrections. If the plan goes through, it would offer qualifying candidates the opportunity to work in the cafe.

“The focus is to give these people who may not have a chance in a typical business the opportunity to work in this cafe,” he said.

The cafe project is designed to provide youth training in “practical job skills such as retail, culinary arts, customer service, marketing and business management that can lead to productive careers,” according to its website.

Hawley said they’ll be working with people 18 and older for the program.

He said he’d like the cafe to have a feel similar to a Starbucks or Coffee By Design. It would be open for breakfast and lunch. The building may also feature a venue in the rear for small concerts, poetry readings or other performances.

Hawley said the organization learned Monday that its offer on the building was accepted and it now has 30 days to close. Ethos, a marketing company, moved to a new building on Ash Street in the spring. Judy Trepal, an Ethos agency principal, said Wednesday she’d rather withhold comment until the building sale is finalized.

The Transformation Project has received the bulk of its funding in donations from churches throughout Greater Portland.

The staff is planning an open house for the public in early November, and has been discussing the project with Abigail Cioffi, the coordinator of the Downtown Westbrook Coalition.

Hawley said he plans to have the cafe project’s members get involved in the local community by volunteering.

“These people are quite gifted and talented, and I think the public will be impressed by them,” he said, emphasizing the program is not open to everyone. “We’ll be looking for the right individuals.”

But while Hawley is passionate about the project, he knows it may come with some pushback, with residents unsure of patronizing a business “run by criminals.”

“I’m not a criminal, and my staff isn’t, but we are working with those who have records,” he said.

The Transformation Project conducts a “ready for life” program at Long Creek to prepare youth for re-entry. He said projects like the cafe are important, especially in the face of statistics like a 90 percent recidivism rate nationwide and growing substance use epidemic.

Cioffi said Wednesday that the downtown community does anticipate some concerns about the location, but thinks they can be addressed “in a constructive manner.”

“The Downtown Westbrook Coalition board is supportive of the effort for the coffee shop and event space, as well as the community-minded nature of the organization,” she said.

Hawley said he and his staff are set to meet with city planning and code enforcement staff next week to discuss the project details.

Copy the Story Link