Sacramento's Black-owned Universoul Cafe transforms lives through food recovery and workforce training

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Universoul Cafe, a Black-owned food recovery organization in Sacramento, is transforming lives by providing culinary training and workforce development opportunities for marginalized youth. Founded in 2019 by Tonya Mack, the organization recovers surplus food from the community and uses it to feed those in need while also teaching young people valuable skills in the kitchen.

Why it matters

Universoul Cafe's work is addressing two critical issues in the Sacramento community - food insecurity and lack of access to economic opportunities, especially for young people from marginalized backgrounds. By providing culinary training and jobs, the organization is empowering individuals and lifting up the community as a whole.

The details

At Universoul Cafe's training program in Old Sacramento, young chefs are learning culinary skills from master chef Derris Mosley. The participants, who come from underserved communities, are not only gaining practical experience but also discovering new foods and building trust. Founder Tonya Mack, who has personally experienced hunger and marginalization, is dedicated to ensuring no one else has to go through those struggles. Last year alone, Universoul Cafe delivered 17,000 meals, recovered over 300,000 pounds of surplus food, and created 42 jobs.

• Universoul Cafe was founded in 2019.
• In 2022, the organization's warehouse was broken into, resulting in the loss of over $100,000 worth of essential equipment.
• In 2023, Universoul Cafe secured a $500,000 grant from First Five Sacramento.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Universoul Cafe plans to continue expanding its food recovery and workforce development programs to reach more individuals in need within the Sacramento community.