By Olivia Green | WeINSPIRE Reporter

Hercules, Ca. ― According to the National Foster Youth Institute, more than 23,000 children age out of the foster care system each year. Of those 23,000, 20% will become instantly homeless. With statistics like these, it is not surprising to hear that there are numerous organizations that attempt to set youths up for success; however, not many are successful. This is what makes the La La Land Kind Cafe so unique. The Dallas based coffee shop focuses on employing young people who have aged out of foster care while maintaining a business model that prioritizes kindness.

Francois Reihani is an entrepreneur by nature. As he watched his father’s business ventures, he spent childhood thinking about the next way to make money. By the age of 18 Reihani was a top-selling car salesman. While in undergrad, he opened his first restaurant. This year, the USC dropout is on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list after his success with the La La Land Kind Cafe. 

“Growing up, the main goal was always, how do I make a bunch of money?” Reihani said. “I guess it’s the same way for a lot of people. When we opened the restaurant it was doing well and we were fortunate for that but I also didn’t really find a passion out of it. It was a good wake up call for me at that age because I realized that I didn’t just want to get money out of it. There needed to be a purpose.”

In an effort to understand his purpose, Reihani volunteered with numerous organizations, one of which was Dallas CASA, the courtroom and community advocates for children in the protective care of the state. It was in a volunteer meeting where Reihani was introduced to the adversities that young people face after they leave the system. Homelessness, persistent unemployment, and negative stigma are only a few of the obstacles that youths face. In fact, the NYFI reports that seven out of ten girls who age out of the foster care system will become pregnant before the age of 21. 

Outraged by the harsh realities of these young people and the lack of awareness around the issue, Reihani sought to make a change. He left the hospitality industry with no intention of returning and started his non-profit, the We Are One Project. The organization attempted to provide kids with everything that would set them on the right track: housing, therapy, mentorships, and job placements. A year later it was obvious that the organization was failing for one reason.

“Even if we placed a kid into housing and therapy, if they didn’t have a stable job, nothing else really mattered,” Reihani stated. “Most employers were either not willing to give them a chance or they didn’t have the patience to deal with a kid who has never had a job before and has obviously been through so much in their life.”

This became the spark for the La La Land Kind Cafe. Because employers were not willing to take a chance on youths in need, Reihani decided to combine his entrepreneurial talents and newfound purpose to become their employer. The cafe quickly became a hit in Dallas with its trendy decor gaining them a large social media following on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. In order to promote a kind environment, employees of the Cafe make an effort to welcome and complement one another and their customers. They also make sure to say, “I love you” to everyone who walks through the doors. Francois says that they are in the business of kindness, not coffee; therefore, the bubbly attitude of employees causes a ripple effect on the greater community.

The success of the cafe has not been without obstacles. The lives of people who grow up in the foster care system are usually complicated and oftentimes, the after-effects of those experiences can linger with an individual for a lifetime. The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health reports that one in four youths in foster care will experience posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.  

“When you go through 18 years of your life with real trauma, sometimes it’s not just a job or a person that’s going to fix it,” Reihani said. “Real mental health issues aren’t something that we can really take on.” 

In addition to the complexities that come with hiring these young adults, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a few tough months for the cafe; however, Reihani and his team are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to promote kindness and give opportunities to people in need. 

After the first La La Land Kind Cafe opened in March of 2019, two more locations have since been opened in Dallas and Reihani has plans for several more in 2021. As they continue to grow Reihani wants to exemplify that kindness can be both sustainable and profitable while changing society’s idea of what a business should look like.

“Business is always about finding the next trend,” he said. “We want to become that model.” 

As a young businessman, Reihani found his purpose, not in chasing money, but in promoting kindness, and he encourages young entrepreneurs to focus on finding purpose and combining it with their passion. 

“You have to put yourself out there and find what really fulfills you,” he said. “Are you going to look back on your life when you’re 100 and say you made a bunch of money or that you’re proud of what you did?”

To learn more about Francois Reihani and the La La Land Kind Cafe, click here!