The Damien Center’s new cafe aims to provide community and support

Cafe Oztara opened in Indianapolis on Friday, offering locally sourced coffees and a variety of pastries.

But there's a larger vision for the 4,000 square foot facility. Along with an art gallery and a performance space, the Damien Center — which has for decades focused on immediate crisis response for people with HIV/AIDS — will use Cafe Oztara to provide community and long-term support.

“This is a place where we get to help people go to the next level, once they've gotten some stability,” Damien Center president and CEO Alan Witchey said. “To say, ‘Hey, I want to get into the workforce. I want to increase my income. I want to increase my skills. I want to increase my education,’ and all those things will happen here."

The cafe’s staff will be composed of people working with the Damien Center’s workforce development program. The initiative aims to help those working at Cafe Oztara develop skills needed to enter into a culinary or hospitality job.

Other services will be provided to community members in need, including help getting a GED, opening a bank account, and overcoming other impediments to living a sustainable life.

Cafe Oztara's general manager, Twinkle VanWinkle, said the space will also honor the Damien Center’s mission to support the local LGBTQ community.

“I love that this is a safe space, not just for the LGBT community, but anyone that needs a comforting space,” VanWinkle said.

A space above the cafe houses an art gallery and meeting spaces. The artwork on display is all for sale, with a selection regularly rotated out to feature new artists.

The Damien Center’s new headquarters, being built next door to the cafe on Washington Street, is set to open in May.

Contact WFYI Digital Producer and Reporter Jeremy Reuben at jreuben@wfyi.org.