Enjoy a delicious, pay-what-you-can meal crafted with care, while connecting with fellow café leaders, volunteers, and supporters. Whether you’re here to relax, network, or simply soak in the spirit of shared mission, this is a time to refuel—both body and soul.

*This event is pay-what-you-can, guests will be invited to go through Taste Project’s process for participation.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Join us as we learn the ins and outs of our host cafe: Taste Community Restaurant.

Taste Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit established simply to feed people one community at a time. One of every six Americans faces the reality that they may not be able to provide for their next meal. There are programs in place that help; however, in Tarrant County, 36 percent of this food insecure population live above the poverty level and receive no government help.

Taste Project’s mission is to feed, educate, and serve our community so they may “…taste and see the Lord is good.”  Psalm 34:8. They believe everyone should have access to healthy nutritional food.  Our vision is to see our community become the solution to the challenges our community faces as it relates to hunger.

Their first project, a non-profit restaurant, focuses on healthy, quality meals made from fresh ingredients. The menu has no prices. This is a give and take concept. We ask guests to do one of the following:

1) pay what you can afford,

2) pay what you would typically pay, or

3) pay what you would typically pay, plus a little extra.

Why We Do It

Jeff Williams has always had a burden for feeding people.  Jeff grew up in a family of four, and both his parents worked hard to put food on the table.  He remembers the times when food was scarce and his parents would skip meals to make sure he and his sister were full.

Jeff understands first-hand the stress his parents encountered to put food on the table in tough times.  And it’s a familiar story of many of our neighbors in need.  Soup kitchens are good, but not everyone feels good about going there.

That’s why, in 2012, Jeff founded Taste Project, a sustainable solution to ensure none of our neighbors go hungry.  But Jeff also wanted a place that eliminated the stress and fear his parents faced.  A friendly place that feels like you’ve just come home.  And a place where you can get more than just a meal, but also hope.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Join us for a discussion on some of the most pressing research topics for Community Cafes.

PANELISTS: Lori Borchers, PhD; Alexandra (Lexi) L. MacMillan Uribe, PhD, RDN; Andrew McNeeley, PhD

Dr. Lori Borchers is an Assistant Professor in Nursing at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, TX. She has been a nurse for over 30 years and has worked with a variety of patients. In addition to teaching, Lori works as a lactation consultant at a Dallas hospital. Starting in the fall, Lori will be teaching in the Public Health course for nursing students.

Alexandra (Lexi) L. MacMillan Uribe, PhD, RDN, is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and a Registered Dietitian. She studied psychology at Penn State University before pursuing a PhD in human nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University. She is a bicultural and bilingual health equity researcher who uses community-informed strategies to develop, adapt, and evaluate health promotion programs that address food and nutrition security and reduce chronic disease risk in under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. 

Andrew McNeeley, PhD is a Postdoctoral Reseacher at Texas A&M University focusing on structural, organizational, and community food insecurity issues. He specializes in ethnographic methodology emphasizing the influence of structure and culture on the service delivery of nonprofit and community organizations. He teaches qualitative methods in an applied service-learning format.


LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Raise your mug (coffee, tea, or whatever fuels you) and join us for a relaxed yet meaningful gathering as we celebrate the wins, growth, and grit of our Community Café network over the past year. This is a time to pause and reflect on the big and small moments that made an impact—from new partnerships and creative programming to volunteer milestones and stories of community connection.

We’ll lift up the unique accomplishments of cafés across the country, share quick spotlight stories, and take a moment to acknowledge the heart-centered work happening every day in our spaces. Whether you’re here to cheer on your peers or share your own café’s success, this is a time to be inspired, reconnect, and celebrate the collective movement we’re building together.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011

Catch up with an old cafe friend or meet someone new; Arlington is full of delicious eateries.

In this highly interactive session, we flip the script: you bring the questions, and your peers bring the insight. Designed for those working in nonprofit Community Cafés, this roundtable-style discussion is a space to tap into the collective knowledge, lived experience, and resourcefulness of fellow café leaders, volunteers, and changemakers.

Whether you're wondering how others train new volunteers, sustain team morale, explain your pay-what-you-can model, or build deeper community trust—this is the place to ask. Together, we'll explore real-life challenges and share grassroots solutions rooted in dignity, equity, and hospitality.

Bring your curiosity, bring your challenges, and most importantly—bring your voice. You are not alone in this work, and someone else might have just the wisdom you need.


LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Workshop sessions are divided into three tracks:

• Startup Cafe Track: for cafes who are working to open their doors.

• Operational Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for less than 3 years.

• Leadership Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for more than 3 years.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Bring your questions and your expertise! This is an opportunity to support all of our cafe leaders who are wrestling with questions that are inhibiting their community cafe.

Boxed lunches provided.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Workshop sessions are divided into three tracks:

• Startup Cafe Track: for cafes who are working to open their doors.

• Operational Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for less than 3 years.

• Leadership Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for more than 3 years.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

In high-stakes, community-centered work, leaders often shoulder the emotional and operational weight of those they serve. This engaging and thought-provoking session explores how mental health and well-being are essential—not optional—for effective leadership in community cafés and similar grassroots organizations.

Led by Dr. Griselle Batista, PhD, RN, CTN-A—an expert in psychiatric-mental health and transcultural nursing—this talk introduces culturally-informed strategies to support mental wellness for leaders working in diverse, often underserved communities. Participants will gain insights into how cultural beliefs influence stress, burnout, and resilience, and leave with practical tools to foster psychological safety, promote balance, and lead from a place of wellness.

Whether you're navigating community trauma, compassion fatigue, or simply trying to sustain your own mental health in a mission-driven space, this session offers a refreshing and research-based perspective tailored for those on the front lines of care and community transformation.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org


ABOUT Dr. Griselle Batista
Dr. Griselle Batista is an Assistant Professor at Texas Christian University's Harris College of Nursing, specializing in psychiatric-mental health nursing and transcultural nursing. Her research focuses on culturally congruent community interventions that promote mental health and prevent suicide among Hispanic/Latino populations, particularly Puerto Ricans.

Education and Credentials:

• PhD in Nursing with a concentration in Transcultural Nursing from Duquesne University

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus on Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing from the University of Miami

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Puerto Rico

• Certified Transcultural Nurse-Advanced (CTN-A)

Research and Publications:

Dr. Batista's scholarly work includes ethnonursing studies and integrative reviews. Notable publications include:

• Batista, G., Zoucha, R., Colbert, A., & Duarté-Vélez, Y. (2024). Understanding cultural values and beliefs of Puerto Ricans regarding suicide and suicide prevention: An ethnonursing study. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. Advance online publication.

• Estrada, G. B., Zoucha, R., & Duarté-Vélez, Y. (2019). Cultural factors influencing suicidal ideation and behaviors in Puerto Ricans: An integrative review. In C. E. Kasper & R. Zoucha (Eds.), Annual Review of Nursing Research (Vol. 37, pp. 261-299). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Professional Affiliations and Service:

Dr. Batista is actively involved in several professional organizations:

• American Nurses Association

• American Psychiatric Nurses Association

• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)

• Transcultural Nursing Society

Her service to NAHN includes:

• Board Member, Dallas Chapter (2014–2016, 2018–2020, 2022–present)

• Member, 50th Anniversary Committee (2022–present)

• Co-Chair, Puerto Rico Ad-Hoc Committee (2021–2023)

Awards and Recognition:

Dr. Batista's contributions to nursing have been recognized through:nursingleadershipscience.org.

• Alumna status in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association (2017–2022)

• Fellow of the Month, SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program (May 2021)

• Minority Nurse Faculty Scholarship, Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future–American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2017–2019)
  

Julie Williams, One World Everybody Eats Board President, kicks off our first full day.

LOCATION:
Taste Community Restaurant
200 North Cooper Street, #150
Arlington, TX 76011
www.tasteproject.org

Catch up with an old cafe friend or meet someone new. We’ll meet at the Welcome Reception and head to dinner in groups. Arlington is full of delicious eateries all within walking distance.

Join us for this meet and greet. Julie Williams, One World Everybody Eats Board President, will provide information on the organization and what you can expect from this year’s Summit.

LOCATION:
The Tipsy Oak
301 East Front Street
Arlington, TX 76011
(We will be on the Patio)

Volunteer alongside the team at Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington or Fort Worth. Space is limited. Advanced registration is required.

Volunteer alongside the team at Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington or Fort Worth. Space is limited. Advanced registration is required.

Join us as we cheer on the Milwaukee Brewers as they play the Cincinnati Reds. Your summit ticket includes a ticket to the game. Food and refreshments are on your own.

Location:
American Family Field
1 Brewers Way
Milwaukee, WI 53214

Bring your questions and your expertise! This is an opportunity to support all of our cafe leaders who are wrestling with questions that are inhibiting their community cafe.

Boxed lunches provided.

LOCATION:
Tricklebee Cafe
4424 W North Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
www.tricklebeecafe.org

Join us as our Board of Directors conclude our 14th Annual Summit of Community Cafes.

LOCATION:
Tricklebee Cafe
4424 W North Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
www.tricklebeecafe.org

Join us as we learn the ins and outs of our host cafe: Tricklebee Cafe.

Tricklebee Café is a pay-what-you-can community café that offers healthy meals, food-service training, and spiritual nourishment. It is a ministry of the Moravian Church in America.

Tricklebee offers a space to foster community, connections, goodwill, and a love for real food with simple ingredients. By offering an inclusive and welcoming space, the organization hopes to bring health, positivity, and peace to their neighborhood.

By providing fresh, healthy, locally-grown food to anyone regardless of ability to pay, Tricklebee addresses food insecurity by feeding the immediate need of hunger, while providing resources to educate and inspire people to make a habit of healthy eating. Access to healthy food helps people to better care for themselves and their neighbors, which heals and strengthens community.

Tricklebee Cafe seeks to be a peaceful gathering place in a neighborhood that has experienced violence and neglect. It is a safe, inviting place for neighbors to gather to promote reconciliation and peace. The organization works to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against the economically and socially marginalized by creating a space where individuals from all backgrounds may gather around the concept of a community table.

LOCATION:
Tricklebee Cafe
4424 W North Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
www.tricklebeecafe.org

Grab a drink and join us as we celebrate cafe accomplishments in 2023 and honor several cafes during our annual awards ceremony.

LOCATION:
Black Husky Brewing
909 E. Locust Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212
www.blackhuskybrewing.com

Catch up with an old cafe friend or meet someone new; Milwaukee is full of delicious eateries.

Join us for a discussion on some of the most pressing research topics for Community Cafes.

PANELISTS: Lori Borchers, PhD; Alexandra (Lexi) L. MacMillan Uribe, PhD, RDN; Andrew McNeeley, PhD

Dr. Lori Borchers is an Assistant Professor in Nursing at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, TX. She has been a nurse for over 30 years and has worked with a variety of patients. In addition to teaching, Lori works as a lactation consultant at a Dallas hospital. Starting in the fall, Lori will be teaching in the Public Health course for nursing students.

Alexandra (Lexi) L. MacMillan Uribe, PhD, RDN, is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and a Registered Dietitian. She studied psychology at Penn State University before pursuing a PhD in human nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University. She is a bicultural and bilingual health equity researcher who uses community-informed strategies to develop, adapt, and evaluate health promotion programs that address food and nutrition security and reduce chronic disease risk in under-resourced and historically marginalized communities. 

Andrew McNeeley, PhD is a Postdoctoral Reseacher at Texas A&M University focusing on structural, organizational, and community food insecurity issues. He specializes in ethnographic methodology emphasizing the influence of structure and culture on the service delivery of nonprofit and community organizations. He teaches qualitative methods in an applied service-learning format.


LOCATION:
The Table/Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
Capitol Drive Lutheran Church
5305 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
www.alicesgardenmke.com

Workshop sessions are divided into three tracks:

• Startup Cafe Track: for cafes who are working to open their doors.

• Operational Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for less than 3 years.

• Leadership Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for more than 3 years.

LOCATION:
The Table/Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
Capitol Drive Lutheran Church
5305 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
www.alicesgardenmke.com

Bring your questions and your expertise! This is an opportunity to support all of our cafe leaders who are wrestling with questions that are inhibiting their community cafe.

Boxed lunches provided.

LOCATION:
The Table/Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
Capitol Drive Lutheran Church
5305 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
www.alicesgardenmke.com

Workshop sessions are divided into three tracks:

• Startup Cafe Track: for cafes who are working to open their doors.

• Operational Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for less than 3 years.

• Leadership Cafe Track: for cafes who have been operating for more than 3 years.

LOCATION:
The Table/Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
Capitol Drive Lutheran Church
5305 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
www.alicesgardenmke.com

“Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) is a strategy for sustainable community driven development. Beyond the mobilization of a particular community, ABCD is concerned with how to link micro-assets to the macro-environment. The appeal of ABCD lies in its premise that communities can drive the development process themselves by identifying and mobilizing existing, but often unrecognized assets, and thereby responding to and creating local economic opportunity.” (Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation)

Join One World Everybody Eats Board Member, Jennifer Earle, as she walks us through the ABCDs of building community in this hands-on lecture style session.

LOCATION:
The Table/Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
Capitol Drive Lutheran Church
5305 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
www.alicesgardenmke.com

Julie Williams, One World Everybody Eats Board President, kicks off our first full day.

LOCATION:
The Table/Alice’s Garden Urban Farm
Capitol Drive Lutheran Church
5305 W. Capitol Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53216
www.alicesgardenmke.com

Volunteer alongside Christie and the team at Tricklebee Cafe. Space is limited. Shift time subject to change.

Volunteer alongside Christie and the team at Tricklebee Cafe. Space is limited. Shift time subject to change.