Overcomer comes full circle with launch of new micro café in Tulsa

(TULSA, Okla.) Living in Oklahoma, a state that frequently tops the list in female incarceration, Maria Morris knows first-hand how easy it is to suddenly be facing decades in prison. 

In 2018, Morris’ 1-year-old daughter Carabelle died in a house fire. To make matters worse, she was arrested and charged with child neglect. Not because Morris was at fault for the fire, but because she had a history of drug addiction and could not save her daughter. 

“When I saw my face on the news, you know, I was just shocked,” Morris said. “I didn’t know what to think. I screamed no, was my immediate reaction. My immediate reaction was there’s no way that they can do this. There’s no way that this is right.” 

Knowing she stood little chance against the Tulsa County criminal justice system, Morris took the only opportunity given to her: adjudication through Just The Beginning, a local diversion and re-entry program. 

Her first job out of jail was at a leasing company, where a co-worker told her to enter a cooking contest after learning that she had trained as a chef.

“I beat a three-year running champion for the chili cook off. So, I was then approached by Kelly and Clara at Mental Health Association and they were like hey, we’re trying to start this new pilot program. It’s going to be transitional employment. And it’s going to be a coffee cart.” 

So, four months after she was released from jail, Morris began working at a coffee cart in the same building as the nonprofit that was helping her, jumping at the opportunity to do anything food-related. 

It was a “yes” that set off a series of events that would not just change Morris’s life, but the lives of many other women, as well. 

After being trained as a barista for the cart, Morris later became a barista trainer at She Brews Coffee in Tulsa, where she started selling her own food items. 

She said she was also thrown into her first catering gig while working at the coffee cart. 

“City Councilor Cass Fahler walks in,” Morris said. “He’s like, I need coffee catered and I need food. Do you know any caterers? And my boss turns around even though I’ve never catered anything before in my life and was like, she’ll do it! He just said okay, it’s going to be for 50 people, send me the invoice.” 

That event, Morris said, was the first time she was able to employ other justice-involved women. 

“So, it all just kind of dominoed from this coffee cart,” Morris said. 

When coffee cart owner Stephanie Dees tragically passed away, Morris said she felt led to continue its legacy. 

“I was given Stephanie’s badge, which I consider a badge of honor now,” Morris said. “Because I know she tried really hard to get it back off the ground. So I feel like she kind of passed me that torch and now I get to be able to do that. So there is so much significance to me and this cart.” 

Today, with God as her guide and a community of partners and supporters behind her, Morris trains and employs justice-involved women through expanded catering services.

Four years later, she now owns that same coffee cart where she started as a barista, through her nonprofit Carabelle’s Legacy. 

“I’m a little nervous but I’m really excited, too,” Morris said. “This is like my first, the first thing that has resembled a storefront for me. It’s a new chapter and so, I’m really excited.” 

Just The Beginning founder Jenice Jones and She Brews Coffee founder Rhonda Bear were both on hand for Wednesday’s ribbon cutting.

Carabelle’s Micro Cafe is located inside the Legacy Plaza Building East, 5330 E. 31st Street, Conference Center Entrance. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.