Café & Bakery

About the Program

Opened in 2015, our café and bakery serves as our training facility that teaches our students culinary arts and customer service. Students are rotated through the sections of front of house, cashier, coffee barista, prepping station, cooking station, and baking station.

Here they learn the food industry and learn how to serve our customers. It provides an excellent environment to learn the basics in this career path and to discover which parts of the restaurant are your strengths. Many of our students reluctantly serve in the front of the house, only to discover a new confidence on how to interact with people on a daily basis.

Please check out our menu and hours. Some of our items are also for sale on our website. Thank you for helping us bake towards a better future!

Interested in this program? Contact Us

Learn cooking, prep work, and valuable customer service skills.

What Our Students Say About MBW Café

"My name is Valmon. I like to bake & decorate cakes. My favorite things to make are vegan bites and brownies to perfection. I also learned about different cuisines. The most important thing I learned from My Brother’s Workshop is a good work ethic, how to be responsible and how to communicate better. I also learned how to cope with situations in an intellectual way that I did not know how to do before. I love the Café for its environment and employees."

"I am a trainee at MBW Café & Bakery where I have learned a great deal. I have learned that hard work pays off for a better present and future. This program helps me to learn how to become a man. It teaches me new things to prepare myself for the next level. My Brother’s Workshop also taught me how to become a better person by asking questions, helping out, taking initiative, proper communication and socialization skills. MBW gives me great work experience to build my resume’ and have a good name and record. It is a great highlight for me."

"Working at My Brother’s Workshop Café and Bakery has been a great experience because people there show you how to handle yourself when you go out to find a job. At the café they teach baking, making sandwiches and cooking. There are also counselors at My Brother’s Workshop. If someone is need of counseling the school has a counselor to help them out. You can go to school and work at the same time as receiving training. Someone’s always there to help you if you need help. I'm looking forward to having my high school diploma. With my high school diploma, I’ll be able to get a better job."

"MBW has made me a better person. Without this program, I wouldn't have a good sense of responsibility and a good work ethic. I wake up early in the morning, I have to work, and as soon as I finish, I come and do my schooling, which is excellent. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. I feel good about myself and I'm proud."

"My hobbies are taking care of others, spending time with the family,and hanging with my friends. At the age of 16, I was looking for a place to work to stay out of trouble and an employee of MBW introduced me to My Brothers Workshop. At MBW, I was trained to cook, cash customers out and to bake goods. MBW was my first job and I’m happy that it taught me punctuality, patience and respect. My favorite position at MBW was the LINE which is in the kitchen. I would sometimes work along side Julius the Chef Jackson where he would show me techniques and ways to get food out to the customers fast. When I graduate from MBW, I’m going to move to the state of Florida and attended the Florida Memorial University where I’m going to be studying to become a Trauma Surgeon."

Mentors & Staff

Chef Ashley Allen Sr.

Executive Chef | Culinary Educator | Visionary Restaurateur, Cafe & Bakery

Chef Ashley Allen Sr., born and raised in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, began his culinary journey at age 10 in his grandmother’s kitchen at DJ’s Bar & Restaurant—now Shipwreck Restaurant. He quickly advanced through roles in local kitchens and luxury resorts in the USVI. This hands-on foundation evolved into professional mastery that launched a lifelong career in culinary innovation. His culinary ascent took him to Miami, where he joined Tony Roma’s and became a corporate trainer, opening over 15 restaurants across the U.S. There, he honed core principles of consistency, efficiency, and flavor presentation—skills that would define his leadership style. His passion for culinary excellence led him to formal training in Mississippi, where he also served as Chef de Cuisine at Bruno’s Eclectic Cuisine. In 2001, Chef Ashley returned home to St. Thomas with a renewed purpose: to contribute to the cultural and culinary identity of the Virgin Islands. While exploring graphic design professionally, he continued his culinary pursuits behind the scenes, envisioning something greater—an accredited Culinary Institute in the Virgin Islands and a restaurant platform for local chefs to showcase their craft. In addition to his role at MBW, Chef Ashley serves as the Executive Chef of Lemniscate Hospitality Group, where he continues to elevate Caribbean cuisine and inspire future chefs. With a career spanning over three decades, his mission is clear: to feed the soul, honor heritage, and build the future of culinary arts in the Caribbean. Personal Motto: “Food is Life.

Julius Jackson

Manager, Cafe & Bakery

Julius is a professional chef, professional boxer, author and 2008 Olympian representing the U.S Virgin Islands. Wanting to have more practical experience after high school, he enrolled at The Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. Julius is currently the Head Chef and Manager at My Brother's Workshop Bakery & Cafe, a non-profit training program for at-risk youth. Julius volunteers with non-profit, YoungLife and attends many speaking engagements to encourage the young men and women of the VI community.

Trevorlyn Caines

Trainer, MBW Cafe & Bakery

Born and raised in the vibrant, culturally rich landscape of Puerto Rico, Trevorlyn Caines is no stranger to the power of diversity and community. With over 30 years of experience in sales management, Trevorlyn has cultivated a successful career built on leadership, relationship-building, and a deep understanding of people’s needs and motivations. After decades in the corporate world, Trevorlyn made the decision to return to the Virgin Islands, embracing a new chapter focused on purpose and service. This shift led her to My Brother's Workshop (MBW), a transformative organization that empowers youth through mentorship, education, and skill-building. Now living a life rooted in service, Trevorlyn finds joy and fulfillment in being part of the MBW mission—helping to uplift others and give back to the community. For her, this is more than just a career change; it’s a calling. Being a part of MBW has not only allowed her to use her experience in new, meaningful ways but has also reconnected her with what matters most: people, purpose, and positive impact.