Root’s social enterprise structure and training program is based on successful models including DC Central Kitchen, FareStart in Seattle, and Liberty’s Kitchen in New Orleans.  Utilizing the culinary arts as a training tool for high-risk populations who have significant barriers to employment is a proven pathway to stable employment and self-sufficiency.

Root’s Self-Supporting Model

Through Root’s social enterprise model, we operate several lines of food service-based businesses out of our Salem facilities. These provide a training environment for the students and also generate revenue to support our mission.

These include:

• The Root Café: The Root Café offers fresh, delicious, made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch items, smoothies, pastries, desserts, specialty coffees and espresso beverages. Ingredients are primarily locally-sourced and organic.

• Catering by Root: In our spectacular event space, your home or office, Catering By Root offers delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners for social events, corporate gatherings and private parties.

• HarborPoint at Root: This new 2,200 square foot special event site features unique, multi-faceted and flexible event space, a convenient downtown location with beautiful views of Salem Harbor, and abundant parking.