
JACKSON, Miss. - Refill Cafe is a new full-service restaurant, as well as the on-the-job training site for the Refill Jackson Initiative (RJI), a nonprofit located in West Jackson and focused on workforce development.
The Refill Jackson Initiative (RJI) is a new nonprofit located in the former Koinonia Coffee House in West Jackson. RJI’s mission is to empower young adults, ages 18 to 24, so that they are more confident, better equipped, and motivated to enter into, navigate, and stay in the workforce. RJI pursues this mission by holding a 10-week training program during which program participants learn basic necessary job skills in the classroom and practice those skills in RJI’s full-service restaurant and on-the-job training site, Refill Cafe. Participants then receive 10 months of follow on support, including paid internships, linkages to full-time employment, and opportunities for further education. Up to seven trainings of 12 to 16 participants each will be held annually.
Refill Cafe is a new restaurant located in the former Koinonia Coffee House in West Jackson. Open for weekday lunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Refill Cafe will serve a variety of delicious soups, salads, sandwiches, and a blue plate special. As Refill Cafe is the on-the-job training site for RJI, customers will be able to see the work of RJI first-hand when program participants are inthe restaurant preparing meals and serving customers.
Join Mayor Antar Chokwe Lumumba, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, and RJI’s Board of Directors and Staff at the Refill Cafe ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 26th, at 11:30 a.m.; guests in attendance will then be welcomed into Refill Cafe to sample the menu and tour the facility.