The Neighbors Link Café

Among the most exciting ingredients in the success of Neighbors Link is the always-crowded and alcohol-free Café and activity center. Here, constituents pass the night hours playing board games such as checkers and bingo, "networking" to find job, and sharing their personal hopes and fears about tomorrow. The alcohol-free Cafe is a healthy, stimulating center of social life 16 hours daily, 365 days a year.

The program is well managed by 2 full time constituent staff members. With billiard tables and snack service offered at below market prices, the activity center also provides daily income to help offset the operating expenses of our organization's annual budget. In a larger way, the Cafe and its programs benefit constituents by
• Providing a sense of "home place" where marginalized people feel valued and important to the larger community.
•Teaching social and organizational skills which are vital to the empowerment of historically disorganized and oppressed people.
• Fostering social cohesion and leadership development through community building, events planning, committee responsibilities, and team activities (including the Neighbor's Link soccer team).