Omega Espresso Bar

The Season of Now

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It is with the early hint of spring that one starts to think of all the possibilities of the coming summer season.

As the first flowers pop into view and the grass turns lush green, there is hope for sunny skies (and maybe even a tinge of color on my pale shoulders!) The tease of warm weather and its fun bring smiles. This season is full of expectations: among them weekend trips and the probable list of projects to conquer.

Yet the anticipation of what is to come sometimes keeps us from enjoying the here and now. The future draws us ahead, making restless days of the present.

But with time comes wisdom. And wisdom seeks counsel.

The Omega Espresso Bar team have been active and actively listening. We’ve been utilizing what we have in the present. As we anticipate the possibility of our own retail space in the future, we are joyfully partnering with other local coffee shops right now who share our mission of bringing hope.

A highlight of this season for Omega Espresso Bar is our upcoming Women’s Brunch.

image of table settings

Please join us!

We are carefully attending to all the details to make it a special morning for you.  We are excited to share with you the “behind the scenes” of this season!

We’ll bring you up to speed on Omega Espresso Bar’s Pilot Program, now in progress. And you’ll hear sweet stories of lives already changed and what is to come.

Curious?

Please email us at rsvp@oeb.io and we’ll give you the details so you can RSVP.

We’re looking forward to being with you!

Meet “Sammi”

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Sammi tries to forget her past.

The future is hard for her to get excited about. She is stopped in her tracks every time she thinks about who she once was. What she needs is a chance, an opportunity to prove that she is not the same anymore.

But Sammi has a criminal past that bobs to the surface when she applies for a job. Most applications ask her a humiliating question:

“Have you been convicted of a felony?”

Photo of hand writing on form

Filling out an employment application is a nervous moment for Sammi.

The truthful answer usually ends in a rejection. But Sammi is able-bodied, she works hard, and she wants to do more!

Since her incarceration, her new home has taught her much more than just how to cope. She has learned about herself and what she is capable of.

She appreciates the time with her mentor at a women’s transitional home. She’s been practicing her cash-handling skills through role-playing. Her coach has been walking her through the interview process. The classes she’s taken on budgeting and life-skills have set her up for success.

But that situation can only take Sammi so far. What she needs is a way to demonstrate what she’s capable of.

Sammi dreams of a setting that where her past isn’t a waste, but a catapult to her future. Her “real world skills” can be molded and morphed into something profitable, something self-sustaining.

Sammi imagines a life that she can now dare to hope for.

The team of Omega Espresso Bar dream along with Sammi. Our hearts pull toward all the “Sammis” among us who long for a better way. All they need—besides their desire—is a chance.

These past few months we’ve begun a partnership with a local coffee shop who is allowing an intern to start her future there. We’ve met with a professional funding organization to project our 2017 timeline with purpose. We continue to meet with like-minded organizations, networking and developing.

Thank you for dreaming with us. We long for the day when we’ll open the doors of our shop. Until then, we work hard. We pray hard. We trust.

We trust that the dream given to us is shared for every Sammi that waits.

At the Table: Coffee with Chuck Gatewood

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Photo of Chuck Gatewood

Chuck Gatewood, a member of Omega Espresso Bar’s board, shares how opportunity and relationship are interwoven.

Editor’s Note: This article is the seventh in a series written by the members of Omega Espresso Bar’s Board of Directors. Each one will be answering questions or sharing why he or she is committed to playing a vital role in Omega’s story as it unfolds.
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OEB: Who are you?

Chuck: My name is Chuck Gatewood. Together with my wife, Julie, I serve on Omega Espresso Bar’s board.

OEB: What draws you to be a part of Omega Espresso Bar’s cause?

Chuck: For years, I’ve served on various boards. I enjoy the interactions that stem from serving together as a team. Where there is a common goal and everyone pitches in to achieve it, there is a sense of satisfaction. And there’s real joy when that team effort goes into something that shows God’s love in action—like Omega Espresso Bar does.

Julie and I both love that through our service on the board, we get to bring hope and a future to young women in dire circumstances. We draw from our individual skill sets, work and life experiences to help guide OEB as it fulfills its mission.

OEB: What comes to mind when you think about the potential for Omega Espresso Bar’s impact?

Chuck: Two things: opportunity and relationship. Let me elaborate.

Everyone makes choices in life that they later regret. I know I’ve made my share of bad decisions. I’ve watched friends do the same. My brother-in-law used to live out on the streets and spent some time in jail. He’s out now, and beginning to enjoy a fruitful life. He was given another chance by people that believed in him and saw his potential.

That’s what we want to be able to provide for the women who come in contact with OEB: another chance. We can affirm them. We can show them that they are loved. They get to see what healthy relationships look like. We can assist them as they work hard to develop skills to get them back on their feet. It’s an opportunity for them to gain self-esteem, to live healthy lives, and to experience God’s love.

I have two daughters. I want them to have people in their lives who will bring a positive influence and help mentor them with wisdom and love. What a privilege to help Omega create these same healthy relationships for other young women.

OEB: Anything else you’d like to share?

Chuck: When I think of what we at Omega can do to transform a life, it reminds me of my friend and fellow OEB board member, Janna Kainos.

Over the past several years I have watched her grow more alive. Her spirit continues to blossom. Why? Janna knows she is loved. It’s not just because of the love of her friends. She’s growing because of her relationship with Jesus Christ.

I can’t wait to see other young ladies experience this same life-changing love of God in action!