Plate & Play

A mobile community outreach movement aimed at reclaiming the high-risk hours of 4 PM to 6 PM in North Florence by providing mentorship, meals, and life-changing educational programs.

Overview

Support Our Young Entrepreneurs

The Plate & Play Initiative: From a Moment to a Movement

The Plate & Play Initiative is the premier community outreach program of C.A.V.E., specifically engineered to reclaim the critical window between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM—the hours when our youth are most vulnerable to negative influences. We are proud to announce our launch in North Florence, aligning our mission with the City’s current revitalization efforts. While the city focuses on the aesthetics and infrastructure of North Florence, C.A.V.E. is committed to pouring into the people who reside there. Our goal is to ensure that revitalization is not just a passing moment, but a sustained movement of human investment.

Innovation Through Collaboration

This mobile outreach model is powered by a unique intergenerational partnership between 11-year-old entrepreneur Talena Johnson, owner of Talena’s Golden Grill, and Ms. Cupcake of Piece of Cake Entertainment. By meeting young people where they are both physically and socially; we deliver mentorship, enrichment, and healthy food directly into the heart of the neighborhood.

Our Dual Mission: Outreach & Advocacy

The Plate & Play Initiative serves as more than just a safe haven; it is C.A.V.E.’s primary fundraising venture to support our deep-impact work within schools. Every "Community Link" supported through this initiative allows us to provide essential in-school resources for teachers and students through our three signature programs:

STEM Innovative Engineers: Building the technical leaders of tomorrow by equipping youth with high-level problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills specifically built for modern collaboration.
Workforce Development: Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, and servant leadership; preparing students to not only innovate and lead in the business world but to lift their community as they rise.
SEL "The Author’s Club": Empowering youth to become the lead narrator of their own lives, providing the social-emotional tools they need to reclaim, write, and share their unique life stories with confidence.

Who We Serve

We focus on elementary through high school students residing in high-crime areas and underserved neighborhoods where access to structured after-school resources is often non-existent. By providing a visible, consistent "Safe Haven" during the hours when community violence and negative influences are at their peak, we offer a critical alternative to the streets. Through positive role models, workforce readiness, and deep social-emotional support, we empower our participants to navigate their environments with resilience and grow into confident leaders who are ready to succeed.

Join the Link

Every donation and every volunteer hour help to strengthen the "Community Link" that holds our next generation together. We invite you to invest in the people of North Florence. Together, we are building a legacy of safety, opportunity, and leadership.

Core Program Components

Leadership Foundations

Students are introduced to age-appropriate leadership principles that promote responsibility, teamwork, and confidence.

Creative & Critical Thinking

Interactive activities encourage innovation, problem-solving, and self-expression through guided projects and discussions.

Character & Emotional Development

Participants build emotional intelligence, resilience, and positive decision-making skills.

Entrepreneurship & Exposure

Students are introduced to basic entrepreneurial concepts, goal setting, and community awareness to broaden their perspective and future aspirations.

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