Urbean Cafe - Helping Former Offenders Gain Employable Skills

The Akron Beacon Journal took the time to speak with Rev. Dennis Shawhan, Executive Director of Broken Chains Ministry, and Joy Rios, Urbean Cafe manager about what the mission of the cafe truly is. In the article, Dennis talks about the skills that BCM clients learn within the cafe environment. In addition to creating stability and a restored sense of personhood, these skills allow the staff to more easily transition to other job opportunities with a high rate of success.

Joy shares her personal story by narrating the events in her life that lead to her time in the penitentiary, the process of reformation, and the many ways Broken Chains Ministry and the Urbean Cafe have helped her restore her life. 

Read the full article by visiting Ohio.com. Video by Smithberger Photography (April, 2014).