ATLANTA - The Atlanta Falcons have named Chad Houser, founder, CEO and executive chef of Café Momentum, as their 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker - an annual recognition celebrating leaders who are driving significant, measurable change in their communities across the NFL's Inspire Change initiative's four pillars: education, economic advancement, police-community relations and criminal justice reform.
Houser is a social entrepreneur whose commitment to serving others, coupled with his humility and tenacity, makes him a consummate nonprofit changemaker. After 17 years as a successful chef and co-owner of Parigi Restaurant in Dallas and inspired by a life-changing experience teaching ice cream-making to young men in juvenile detention, Houser shifted his focus in 2012 to launch Café Momentum full-time. From his inception of Café Momentum in Dallas, he has leveraged his network to advance his vision and create more Café Momentum restaurants across the country to serve young people who serve their community rather than take fromit. He has now served as the founder, CEO and executive chef at Café Momentum for 11 years.
Café Momentum is a non-profit that creates opportunities for justice-involved youth through an ever-expanding network of award-winning restaurants and training programs. Youth ages 15–19 gain industry skills and a strong support system. Through his teachings and compassion for youth, Houser is able to effectively make an impact in criminal justice reform through partnerships with youth detention centers, as well as provide education and economic advancements to communities with his knowledge in the culinary world and creation of businesses.
Houser is part of several communities across different cities and states and is an inspirational leader in the national nonprofit community and local hero in the communities where Café Momentum exists. Houser has encouraged and challenged the corporate and philanthropic communities to see opportunities in and for young people, where both sectors saw them as challenges. Most impressive, he knows so many of the young lives who his mission-driven leadership has changed for the better.
Houser will receive a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation, paid directly to a non-profit organization of his choice.
For more information on the 2025 Changemaker recipients, visit NFL.com/Changemakers.
