Pastor Challenges Newton, Plans To Open Pay-What-You-Can Cafe

NEWTON, MA — A local pastor plans to renovate a space in Newton Highlands and turn it into a "pay-what-you-can" community cafe, with proceeds to help address food disparity in the city.

Before the cafe opens, the Rev. Devlin Scott said he's launching a campaign to make Newton focus on doing good for others in the community.

"We hope to make room for each other and work together for a bright future for the next generation, setting an example as a Newton united for the good of others," said Scott, pastor of NewCity Church.

He said the idea for the community cafe and the campaign sprang from a sermon series on hope that he and his wife, who is co-pastor with him at NewCity Church, did this summer. Planning started in July.

"We quickly realized that this was something bigger than our church but something that would support our entire community," he said. "Nothing especially prompted it, but the national discord, the social unrest and the constant rifts on social media between families and friends, etc. — pointed to a need to unity in our differences for a better good. Certainly we have not seen that example on the national political level. Newton is different, but we aren't immune to the discourse."

Scott started NewCommunity Inc. and the "FOR Newton" campaign to encourage Newton residents to purposefully have a positive impact on the community and respond to its needs with "more compassion and less judgment," he said.

The FOR Newton campaign starts with a pledge and a "challenge" asking residents, businesses and organizations to share photos with a positive message and commitment to the community.

"It's a social media campaign (think Ice bucket challenge)," Scott said in an interview.

The second phase will be the launch of a community groups dubbed "CityCrews" to be home to dialogue about city and societal issues. Scott said the groups will be volunteer- and peer-driven, and he hopes they will provide tangible ways for group members to do good by supporting local organizations and will meet about once or twice a month.

The campaign will culminate in the grand opening next fall of the cafe and community space "designed in an effort to address key needs in the city." He said there will be space for a black box theater and a play area designed for children with special needs and their families.

The cafe is set to open its doors in September at 1175 Walnut St., Unit 3, in Newton Highlands in the basement unit of the cleaners. Because part of the space used to be an old bank vault, it will be called, aptly, The Vault.

It will be funded in part by "local partners, national partners, individual donors and grants," Scott said, adding he's confident it will resonate with many people in town.

As an African American, Scott said he experienced the severed community over the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests. But expects that everyone has their story on why this resonates.

"This is not necessarily about 'civic' engagement, but about 'civil' engagement," Scott said. "It doesn't take a lot of energy or investment to point out what you're against. Division, polarization and partisanship are the rule of the day. We want to unite around what we're for and who we're FOR. We are all FOR Newton."

Scott said he has consulted with former Mayor Setti Warren on the project and that city hall is aware of the effort, too. Warren did not respond to request for comment.

The local chamber of commerce president said he thinks this is a great idea.

"After such a challenging year and as we enter an uncertain winter, the timing of this FOR Newton campaign couldn’t be better," said Newton-Needham Regional Chamber President Greg Reibman. "We really will be stronger as a community when we find common ground, that includes both residents and businesses but employees who may live elsewhere but also have a vested interest in our city."

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.