{"id":1759,"date":"2021-08-20T22:05:01","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T22:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happilylisa.com\/?p=1759"},"modified":"2021-08-21T22:05:27","modified_gmt":"2021-08-21T22:05:27","slug":"la-la-land-kind-cafe-on-a-mission-to-help-foster-youth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happilylisa.com\/experiences\/california\/la-la-land-kind-cafe-on-a-mission-to-help-foster-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"La La Land Kind Cafe: On a Mission to Help Foster Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"

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La La Land Kind Cafe: On a Mission to Help Foster Youth<\/h1>\n

The \u201cLa La Land Kind Cafe\u201d<\/a> isn\u2019t just another place to grab a fancy cup of coffee in Santa Monica. At this coffee shop on the West Side\u2019s trendy Montana Avenue, you\u2019re helping kids who have aged out of the foster care system gain valuable life skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I recently checked out the bright and cheery open-air cafe for NBC\u2019s \u201cCalifornia Live\u201d<\/a> and left with such a happy heart. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-131439″ type=”carousel” medias=”1762,1764,1760,1765,1761,1763″ carousel_lg=”3″ carousel_md=”3″ carousel_sm=”1″ thumb_size=”one-one” gutter_size=”3″ carousel_interval=”15000″ carousel_navspeed=”1000″ carousel_loop=”yes” carousel_nav=”yes” carousel_nav_mobile=”yes” stage_padding=”0″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_padding=”2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1629583406328{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]Francois Reihani, the founder and CEO, decided to focus on helping children after hearing story after story and all the horrible statistics about the problems fostered youth face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reihani opened the first cafe in Texas, and just recently opened the Los Angeles location, bringing the number of cafes he owns to four.\u00a0 The name \u201cLa La Land Kind Cafe\u201d doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that we\u2019re in the entertainment capital of the world in Southern California<\/a>.\u00a0 Instead, it\u2019s meant to describe or represent a dream world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More than just serving up a seriously good cup of coffee and avocado toast to die for.\u00a0 The cafe offers the teenagers an 8 week paid internship program, during that time they are taught life skills, receive on-the-job training, along with customer service training, and are assigned a mentor. At the end of the 8 weeks, they are helped with job placement, housing, schooling, and therapy. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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