The Transformation Project, an organization that works to transition young adults  from Long Creek Youth Development Center, closed Wednesday on 907 Main St. in downtown Westbrook, the former office of Ethos.

The non-profit group had been under contract on the building since early October, and intends to turn the building into a cafe, bakery and catering service on the first floor, with limited housing on the second floor, which would be staffed mostly by youth transitioning out of Long Creek.

Ken Hawley, the executive director of the faith-based Transformation Project, said Tuesday that he was excited as the closing date neared.

If the plan goes through, it would offer qualifying candidates the opportunity to work in the cafe.

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.

Since the initial announcement, which led to some apprehension from immediate neighbors, Hawley and his team have hosted informational and neighborhood meetings to describe the program, including one earlier this month at the Westbrook Public Safety building.

The initiative has gained the support of city officials, the Downtown Westbrook Coalition and the Westbrook Police Department.

Hawley said the police department, led by Chief Janine Roberts, has been “fantastic” to work with.

He said unlike adult facilities, the young people are coming back into the community without a record.

“They do not have a felon attached to their name. The state does not consider them criminals,” he said. “We have to be careful to protect their character.”

Ethos, a marketing company, moved to a new building on Ash Street in the spring, and put their former space up for sale.

After the closing, the group will host a housewarming party on Dec. 11, where they plan to officially thank supporters and gather donations of physical goods for the new space. Hawley said they’re hoping to get donations of furniture, bedding and other materials for the upstairs living space. The group has been working toward a permit with the city for the residential space.

According to Hawley, the Transformation Project receives most of its funding from various church organizations throughout the state. He said the group almost has funding in place to keep the operation running for a year.

He said Long Creek, which is operated by the Maine Department of Corrections, houses young adults from all over the state, and that support for the Transformation Project comes from organizations that “want our young people to have an opportunity, to see them come back to our communities as successful citizens.”

He said the group’s goal is to have the cafe up and running by spring.

Abigail Cioffi, the coordinator of the Downtown Westbrook Coalition, told the American Journal in October that the coalition board “is supportive of the effort for the coffee shop and event space, as well as the community-minded nature of the organization.”

A larger open house for the public is tentatively scheduled for January, where residents can also catch a performance from Maine Inside Out, a performance group made up of young adults from Long Creek Youth Development Center. Hawley said it will give residents the opportunity to talk to the kids, and ask questions.

“We’re going to do it right,” he said of the organization’s first public event. “I think the best way of doing an open house is to meet the very people we’re going to be working with.”

The Transformation Project, a non-profit organization that works to transition young adults from Long Creek Youth Development Center, closed on a building at 907 Main St. this week. The group plans to open the space as a cafe, bakery and catering service.

Copy the Story Link