What a First Opportunity Can Make Possible

Tay's journey reminds us why Café Vida matters.

What can a first opportunity make possible?

For Atavion, known to friends and family as Tay, it meant discovering a path toward a future built around his lifelong passion: cooking.

For the past six years, Tay has been part of the Fred Finch community, working toward his dream of becoming a chef.

Like many young adults transitioning into adulthood, the path hasn't always been straightforward. Balancing school, employment, and significant life challenges, Tay explored opportunities through Job Corps, college, and supported employment while continuing to engage in therapy and other supportive services that helped him build the skills needed for greater independence.

Although he remained determined, navigating those experiences with limited support made reaching his goals more difficult.

Today, Tay is thriving.

With support from our Supportive Services for Transition Age Youth (STAY) program, Tay secured stable housing—a milestone that gave him the foundation to focus on work, pursue his passion for cooking, and continue building an independent future. STAY helps transition-age young adults with significant mental health needs access stable housing while working toward recovery, independence, and achieving their personal goals.

Today, Tay maintains steady employment, is considering attending a prestigious culinary program to further his training, and continues doing what he has always loved most—bringing people together by preparing meals for family and friends in the home he worked so hard to achieve.

His story is one of resilience, perseverance, and possibility.

It also reminds us why Café Vida is so important.

Café Vida is being created so more young adults have access to the kind of support and opportunity that can help them reach their goals sooner. A supportive workplace where young adults receive paid job training, mentorship, behavioral health support, and encouragement can make all the difference as they navigate the transition to independence.

More than a café, Café Vida will be a place where young adults build confidence, develop real-world job skills, and discover what's possible when someone believes in their potential.

Every young person deserves the opportunity to take that first step.

With your support, we can help create more stories like Tay's—and give the next generation of young adults the opportunity to build brighter, more independent futures.

Help Bring Café Vida to Life

Your support helps young adults build confidence, develop job skills, and take meaningful steps toward independence.

By investing in Café Vida, you're helping open doors to employment, hope, and brighter futures while strengthening Fred Finch's long-standing commitment to helping children, youth, and families thrive.

Donate today and help bring Café Vida to life.

Supporting Young Adults Every Step of the Way

Before Café Vida, programs like our Supportive Services for Transition Age Youth (STAY) have helped young adults build the foundation for independence by connecting them with stable housing, behavioral health support, and individualized services. Café Vida will build on that foundation by creating paid employment opportunities and real-world job training, helping even more young adults gain the confidence and skills they need to thrive.

Learn more about the STAY program.