518VAS Corner is a new public cafe and workshop space at 153 South Pearl Street, Suite 102, in Albany. During its soft launch, it serves customers weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to CBS6 Albany.
The soft launch began this month and is expected to run through November, with a grand opening planned for December 5, according to WRGB. The station reported that the space gives Sister to Sister Awakening a regular venue after years of using temporary locations and libraries for its programming.
Maisah Abdul Walton, the organization’s founder and CEO, established Sister to Sister Awakening to support girls and young women. According to CBS6, Walton said she aims to provide girls with support she wished she had at their age.
A Fixed Venue for Workshops and Support
The organization’s workshops address bullying and sex-trafficking awareness, and include peer-to-peer support groups, according to CBS6 Albany. Vice president Jewel Barton said the organization sought a venue of its own after relying on borrowed rooms for its programs.
The organization secured the cafe by committing to pay $1,200 per month in rent, as noted by CBS6 Albany. Barton, who has a small background in culinary arts, is helping shape what the space becomes beyond its role as a workshop venue.
Coffee for Seniors and Unhoused Neighbors
The cafe plans to serve the public and reserve a limited daily amount of coffee for unhoused people and seniors. Barton told CBS6 that the allotment will remain available regardless of how busy the cafe is.
What Albany County’s Homelessness Count Measures
The City of Albany’s housing needs assessment reports that Albany County’s unsheltered point-in-time count rose from 49 people in 2021 to 173 in 2024, with counts of 67 in 2022 and 101 in 2023. The figure is specifically an unsheltered point-in-time count, according to the City of Albany.
Homelessness Data and South Pearl Plans
The same City of Albany needs assessment reports that CCHMIS recorded 1,478 people experiencing homelessness in Albany County emergency shelter, safe haven and transitional housing programs during 2024. This annual, service-based figure differs from the unsheltered point-in-time count, which is a one-night snapshot. In its September 2022 South Pearl Downtown Revitalization Initiative application, the City of Albany proposed one mile of streetscape and infrastructure improvements in the area, including pedestrian and bicycle amenities.
To help make that possible, Barton has requested donations of unopened and unused decaf or regular coffee from the community. The organization also accepts donations by emailing [email protected], or by sending checks directly to the South Pearl Street address.
An Unrated Nonprofit Still Building Its Public Record
Charity Navigator lists Sister to Sister Awakening as unrated, saying its profile lacks the public data needed to generate a star rating.
The soft launch is scheduled to continue through November, ahead of the organization’s expected December 5 grand opening. The cafe’s public hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., CBS6 reports.
