History
Inspiration Corporation was founded in 1989 by Lisa Nigro, a police officer who was searching for a personal response to the people she encountered on her beat. Lisa borrowed her nephew's red wagon, filled it with coffee and sandwiches, and pulled it around the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago offering a little dignity and respect to the people she encountered. Over time, the wagon grew into a van, bus, and eventually a full-service cafe, where men and women experiencing homelessness could sit down, order off a menu and be served. In the years that followed, Inspiration Cafe expanded its services beyond simply meals, to include case management, supportive services, housing, and employment training.
Specialties
Inspiration Cafe is a program site where people who are homeless or poor are provided with free restaurant-style meals. Learn more about volunteering on our website. Inspiration Kitchens is our social enterprise restaurant where we also train people for jobs in the foodservice industry. Check out our Inspiration Kitchens page if you'd like to leave a Yelp review of the restaurant or catering service!