WORCESTER—The Latin American Health Alliance (LAHA) has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership’s Municipal Matching Grant program, the organization announced this week.
The funding supports Café Reyes, a Worcester-based employment training program that provides job skills, mentorship, and long-term stability for men in recovery from substance use disorder.
Café Reyes, located on Shrewsbury Street, is staffed by residents and graduates of LAHA’s Hector Reyes House, a residential treatment program serving Latino men. The café offers hands-on job training while serving Cuban and Latin American cuisine to the community.
“We are excited to put these funds to work through our Café Reyes Employment Training Program,” said José Lemos, board president at LAHA, in the announcement, “which offers tailored supports and long-term stability for individuals who are currently part of or have recently graduated from our Hector Reyes House program.”
The grant is part of nearly $1.5 million in awards distributed to 75 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The matching funds, provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and RIZE Massachusetts Foundation, aim to support evidence-based opioid recovery programs.
Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury) praised the investment, noting the program’s dual benefit of providing job opportunities and offering authentic Latin cuisine to the Worcester community.
“This program benefits the community in two different ways – providing opportunities for Latino men in addiction recovery to work in a stable and supportive environment, while also offering delicious and authentic Latin food,” Moore said in the announcement.
Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester) echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of supporting initiatives that strengthen recovery pathways and workforce integration.
The Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, which administers the grants, is funded by the Massachusetts Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, created through legal settlements with pharmaceutical companies involved in the opioid crisis. Two additional rounds of grant funding will be distributed through 2027, totaling $3.75 million.
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