R&R's Community Coffee

Refuge & Restoration addresses the pervasive economic and social distress which negatively affects our community, like countless urban communities across our country. Economic and societal distrust has led to a genuine feeling of hopelessness which gives rise to a seemingly endless cycle of poverty. This cycle is perpetuated by lack of resources, unemployment, and unhealthy living conditions. Adding to the cycle are repeated services, wage and income disparities, disinvestment, and lack of equity in business opportunity and ownership.

The R&R Marketplace property, owned by the R&R nonprofit, is strategically positioned within one of the busiest sections of the West Florissant corridor, becomes the epicenter of change throughout St. Louis County. According to the Department of Motor Vehicle statistics, over 30,000 vehicles travel the West Florissant corridor daily.

R&R has begun construction and development. The land sat vacant for over twenty years. Located in the front yard of a residential area, the neighborhood is characterized by lack of access and little access to capital.

Dedicated to providing critical support, businesses and services to the economy, R&R will serve individuals and families in the region through workforce career development, early childhood education, financial empowerment, entrepreneurial capacity advancement, and a multiplex facility that will host community structured opportunities, including but not limited to a church, health and wellness, demo commercial kitchen and storage, as well as a black box theater focused on the arts.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Refuge and Restoration nonprofit was founded in 1999 by Pastors Ken and Beverly Jenkins, Black indigenous leaders, as a transitional home in St. Louis for men who were homeless, under-employed, unemployed, or previously incarcerated. While R&R’s immediate impact was evident, a large gap was uncovered in the community of marriage and family counseling, crisis outreach, youth services, and workforce development. R&R has managed a career training program, Jobs for Life, for two decades and has led over 3000 individuals to stable and meaningful careers. The decades of career training, building relationships with individuals and families, and lived experience in this community has led the Jenkins to create the R&R Marketplace vision and project.

R&R has spent the last five years developing a sustainable economic development model in a multi-use facility to create access to equitable opportunity.

Refuge and Restoration is an organization committed to transforming lives and strengthening the communities in which we live and do business. We will provide services to a diverse group of clients. Our desire is that everyone excels.

OUR MISSION:

Cultivate innovation and brilliance to produce socioeconomic change agents for the future.

OUR VISION: 

Establish an equitable, sustainable, transformative community.