Jordan and Joelle Hernandez 
Ujamaa Cafe is a local project that is transforming lives and building stronger communities in Jersey City, one healthy meal at a time. The Cafe is actually a vending machine, stocked with thoughtfully curated and balanced meals and snacks. The Cafe, located at Hudson Pride Center at 3000 John F. Kennedy Boulevard #306, is community-centric and fills an urgent need. Read on to uncover the inspiring story and impact of Ujamaa Cafe in Jersey City.
Photo Credit: Ujamaa Cafe
Ujamaa Cafe: The Background
Simply put, Ujamaa Cafe is a vending machine with breakfast, lunch, snack, and beverage offerings from approved vendors for the community to enjoy. The machine is located at Hudson Pride Center in Jersey City and run by the Coalition for Food and Health Equity (CFHE).
When asked about the founding story of the cafe, CEO and Founder Dr. Leeja Carter shared with The Hoboken Girl, “In 2021, I recognized the urgent need for our food assistance clients at CFHE to access healthier options beyond our meal delivery program. I envisioned a place where residents in need could freely obtain nourishing food. Thus, the Ujamaa Cafe was born, providing open access to food fridges. Through innovative technology and data analytics, Ujamaa Cafe curates each fridge to reflect the preferences and needs of the community.”
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The word Ujamaa is Swahili, meaning “brotherhood” and is honored during Kwanzaa as the fourth principle to celebrate “cooperative economics”. The core meaning of Ujamaa is the practice of building and maintaining businesses within the community and sharing the profits together which is exactly what the cafe does. “At CFHE, we understand that true family means operating with minimal barriers to partnerships, service, and initiatives,” shared Dr. Carter.
How It Works
Photo Credit: Ujamaa Cafe
Ujamaa Cafe provides a “cashless, de-surveilled grab-and-go vending option” providing “health-forward pre-made breakfast, lunch, snack, and beverage options”. These items are stored in refrigerators located within trusted community agencies, ensuring “open access” for patrons to view and select products. The genius of the model lies in its simplicity and accessibility: “All that’s required is a single electrical outlet,” making the business community-centric and sustainable. Patrons can easily see meals, snacks, and desserts available at any time in the vending machines, along with nutritional and allergen information. Patrons can also view all food options from their phone or computer.
The Food
The availability of healthy food is achieved through carefully cultivated partnerships with restaurant affiliates. Becoming a Ujamaa Cafe Restaurant Affiliate involves a “long application process” including an online application detailing business information, a narrative on Mission Alignment, and product information, followed by an interview for finalists. This rigorous vetting ensures “the nutrition facts of those items well before they are even created for the fridge,” confirming that “every item in the fridges has been checked and approved for their nutrition facts, and can be considered a healthy option.” Dr. Carter shared that Ujamaa is always looking to expand its partnerships.
A Look to the Future
Photo Credit: Ujamaa Cafe
The future is bright for Ujamaa Cafe. With a daily growing need for food security right in the backyards of Hudson County, this affordable and healthy option is vital. “Looking ahead, we have developed an ambitious 10-year plan to establish Ujamaa Cafes in 50 cities across the country.” Dr. Carter shared. “Through extensive research, we have identified neighborhoods that would greatly benefit from the Ujamaa Cafe initiative, which aims to enhance food access, support neighborhood redevelopment, and foster community engagement. I envision Ujamaa Cafes flourishing nationwide and, hopefully, internationally one day, all led by the community and promoting health.”
See More: A List of Food Pantries in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, + Morris Counties
How to Get Involved
With a goal of further expansion, community involvement with the cafe is essential. The CFHE is a non-profit taking donations and support to fulfill its mission. The coalition hosts ticketed events throughout the year, directly benefiting Ujamaa Cafe. Assistant Coordinator Sanjiv Sunderram suggests joining the exclusive Ujamaa Love Collection on Substack to access exclusive content, live conversations, offers, and early notifications about events. Volunteer opportunities are always plentiful as well, she shared. For businesses looking to become an approved vendor, applications to start the process and eligibility requirements can be found online here.
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