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    Non-Profit Freedom a la Cart Will Run Café in New Library Building

    Columbus non-profit Freedom a la Cart is broadening its reach. A catering company employing survivors of human trafficking, Freedom a la Cart has now partnered with the Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library to run a café in the library’s new Northside Branch building.

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    “Our team is honored and overjoyed for this opportunity,” said Paula Haines, Executive Director of Freedom a la Cart, in a press release. “The café at Columbus Metropolitan Library’s new Northside Branch gives us a chance to share Freedom a la Cart’s delicious menu offerings with more of the community and allows us to broaden our outreach and advocacy efforts throughout Columbus.”

    In 2009, Freedom founders established Doma, a community-based support program for adult survivors of human trafficking. To “fill the void between restoration and economic independence,” they purchased a food cart and started offering workforce training. They’ve since joined the two efforts, now operating a box lunch and full-service catering company that employs survivors of human trafficking and offers them training in culinary arts, hospitality and leadership development.

    The non-profit will be in charge of staffing, developing the menu, and preparing the food for the café. It’ll allow them to expand their options for skill development to cover sale operation, customer service education and barista training.

    Freedom Executive Chef Jessica Levy and Kitchen Manager Vanessa Sakosky created the menu. Along with coffee beverages from Short North roaster One Line Coffee, it will offer fresh-baked pastries made from seasonal ingredients and other snacks, including hummus and veggies and yogurt parfaits.

    The café will reside in the library’s new 25,000 square foot building at 1423 N. High St. It will open on Thursday, June 22.

    To learn more, visit freedomalacart.org.

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    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
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