A CONTEMPORARY REVITALIZATION OF SPACE
BUILT ON TRADITION
Impact of the new design:
Minimize overall environmental impact
Recycle + repurpose materials
Reduce waste
Efficient + productive operations
Functional storage and flow
Inclusive accessibility
Calm nurturing aesthetic
Foster connection + inclusion
Engagement + co-creation of place
MORE ABOUT THE COLLABORATING PARTNERS
Founded in 1929, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen serves the people of metro Detroit by providing food, clothing and human development programs for people experiencing poverty and other challenging circumstances.
Through its programs, the Capuchin Soup Kitchen addresses the needs of thousands of families and individuals each day, providing over 1,000 meals daily. What began as a simple meal of soup and bread in response to the Great Depression has evolved to include:
Earthworks Urban Farm - Detroit’s pioneering urban farm harvests thousands of pounds of certified organic produce every season.
Capuchin Services Center - our food pantry provides over 3 million pounds of food, along with a clothing pantry and guest support services.
Jefferson House - a CARF-accredited 12-bed residential treatment center for men recovering from substance use disorders.
On the Rise Bakery/R.O.P.E. - teaching baking and life skills to men returning from bouts of incarceration or recovery from substance use.
Rosa Parks Children & Youth Program - providing art therapy, tutoring and enrichment for Detroit youth.
Our mission and values are summarized as ‘transforming the world through reverence.’ I think we have a reverence for the people who walk through the door. And we see lives transformed."
Br. Gary Wegner, OFM Cap. - Executive Director, Capuchin Soup Kitchen
The history of Capuchin Soup Kitchen
A LEGACY OF SOCIAL IMPACT
Food for Soul is a nonprofit organization founded by chef Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore empowering local communities to cultivate a more just sustainable food system by preventing food waste and social isolation. Through advocacy, activism and educational tools, they help consumers act with social responsibility and reduce their environmental impact.
Their model Refettorio, launched in 2015. as a cultural initiative to raise global awareness around their mission. The initial project has since expanded into a network of 12 projects across 9 countries, formed through local nonprofit partnerships who collaborate with Food for Soul to open new Refettorios - each providing a community space with a social kitchen at the heart of its operations transforming surplus and imperfect foods into nourishing meals served with hospitality and dignity around the table. The Refettorio Network provides a wide range of programs in addition to food assistance initiatives with the aim of improving healthy food access, well-being and livelihood for those vulnerable.
Each Refettorio is operated by Food for Soul’s nonprofit partner, ensuring projects are responsive to local and evolving guest needs and host cultural initiatives and events that foster inclusive community building and civic engagement.
“Food is the great connector, it is a universal language. Around the table we are equals. Even more importantly around the table we are together.”
Chef Massimo Bottura, UNEP GWA, SDG Advocate
The Global Refettorio Network
