Dear Havenly Community,
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of the Havenly Cafe at 25 Temple Street, effective July 17, 2026. This was an incredibly difficult decision. While the cafe has been a special place for gathering, learning, and community, it has become unsustainable to operate both a cafe and a nonprofit job training program.
This decision does not mean we are giving up, but rather strategically refocusing our operations so we can better serve our community for years to come. Havenly remains deeply committed to our mission of building community power for refugee and immigrant women.
While this marks the end of an important chapter, we have a comprehensive plan. Every one of our current programs (Fellowship Program, Childcare Incubator, Apprenticeship Program, Savings Cooperative, and Alumnae Assembly) are still running, and 100% of our current participants will continue receiving the support and services they rely on.
As part of this transition, Fellowship participants will complete a three-month externship with local employers instead of undergoing kitchen training in the Havenly Cafe. This change will give each participant the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a field that aligns with their personal career goals before graduating from the program.
We are also looking ahead to the opening of our Family Childcare Incubator at 495 Blake Street. We look forward to sharing more details about these programs in the months to come.
To every customer who shared a meal with us, every donor who believed in our mission, every volunteer who gave their time, every partner who stood alongside us, and every staff member and graduate who made Havenly what it is today, thank you. Because of your support, the cafe became so much more than a place to eat. It became a place where refugee and immigrant women built confidence, developed new skills, found community, and took meaningful steps toward economic independence. Your belief in Havenly has changed lives, and that impact will continue long after our cafe doors close.
As we begin this new chapter, our community's support is more important than ever. If you support Havenly's mission, we invite you to make a donation and invest in the women and families we serve. Your generosity will help ensure refugee and immigrant women continue to have access to the training, resources, and opportunities they need. https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Havenlynhv/
Yours Sincerely,
Caterina Passoni, Co-Executive Director
Denisse Cruz-Contreras, Co-Executive Director
