New coffee shop in East Dallas employs formerly incarcerated moms

Two women from Exodus Ministries have been hired as the shop’s baristas.

Nonprofit coffee shop Well Grounded Coffee Community is expected to open Dec. 14 in the Casa Linda neighborhood of East Dallas.

The faith-based shop will employ mothers who were formerly incarcerated and are rehabilitating their lives via a Dallas nonprofit named Exodus Ministries. So far, the co-presidents of Well Grounded have hired two women who will serve as the shop’s baristas.

“This is a starting business to give people a second chance,” says Natalie Huscheck, the co-president and an East Dallas resident.
Co-presidents Michael Huscheck (far left) and Natalie Huscheck (far right), with two of their baristas, Natasha Weir (top center) and Maricela Espinosa, are opening Well Grounded Coffee Community in Dallas in mid-December 2020. Well Grounded is a nonprofit shop that employs formerly incarcerated women from Exodus Ministries.

Co-presidents Michael Huscheck (far left) and Natalie Huscheck (far right), with two of their baristas, Natasha Weir (top center) and Maricela Espinosa, are opening Well Grounded Coffee Community in Dallas in mid-December 2020. Well Grounded is a nonprofit shop that employs formerly incarcerated women from Exodus Ministries.(Ben Torres / Special Contributor)

The idea was inspired by the Delancey Street Foundation, which started nearly 50 years ago in California. The Delancey Street Foundation’s mission is to provide opportunities for “people in poverty, substance abusers, former felons, and others who have hit bottom,” according to its website. It started with just four people but has since worked with 18,000. Huscheck says she is “fascinated” by their model and is taking inspiration from it. She hopes Well Grounded can start small but grow to employ other formerly incarcerated women.

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