We recently had the chance to connect with Stephen Paprocki and have shared our conversation below.
Stephen , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m walking a path—though it hasn’t always been a straight one. Every twist, setback, and unexpected turn has shaped my perspective and prepared me for the work I’m doing now with Cafe86SA. The path is clear: to build a national movement that changes how we support mental health in the workplace. I may not know every step ahead, but my direction is unwavering. Every conversation, partnership, and resource we create is another step toward that destination.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Stephen Paprocki, a chef, entrepreneur, and founder of Cafe86SA, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellness of workers in every industry. Born out of my own personal and professional challenges, Cafe86SA has grown into a movement that connects people with peer-to-peer support, licensed counseling, wellness resources, and tools to navigate toxic work environments.
What makes Cafe86SA unique is that it’s not just a nonprofit—it’s a community-driven platform. Through our Discord-based peer network, 50-state mental health and recovery resource maps, live wellness events, and targeted sponsorship programs, we’re creating accessible, stigma-free support spaces where people can connect and heal. Our mission is deeply personal, and our vision is bold: to build the largest worker mental health support network in the country.
Right now, we’re expanding our digital reach, partnering with sponsors, and launching the Cafe86SA mobile app to make our resources available anytime, anywhere. This isn’t just about helping people survive—it’s about giving them the tools to thrive.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What often breaks the bonds between people is a loss of trust, lack of communication, and unaddressed hurt. Misunderstandings, betrayal, and silence can create a distance that grows over time, making it harder to reconnect. When people stop feeling seen, valued, or safe with each other, those bonds begin to weaken.
What restores them is honesty, empathy, and consistent action. It takes genuine listening, a willingness to admit mistakes, and the courage to have difficult conversations. Restoring trust isn’t instant—it’s rebuilt through repeated moments where you show up, keep your word, and make the other person feel understood. In my work with Cafe86SA, I’ve seen that healing connections often starts with creating a safe space where people can share their truth without judgment. That openness can turn broken bonds into stronger ones than before.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me the depth of resilience I didn’t know I had. Success can be inspiring, but it often hides the grit, pain, and persistence it takes to get there. Suffering stripped away my ego, tested my values, and forced me to see what truly matters—relationships, purpose, and integrity. It showed me that strength isn’t the absence of hardship, but the ability to keep moving forward when the path feels impossible.
Through personal and professional struggles, I’ve learned that empathy grows more from pain than from victory. You can celebrate success with others, but when you’ve walked through the fire, you can sit beside someone else in their darkest hour and truly understand. That kind of connection is something success alone could never teach.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the culinary and hospitality industry is that relentless overwork is a badge of honor and a necessary sacrifice for success. We’ve normalized burnout, telling ourselves it’s just “part of the job,” when in reality it’s damaging lives, families, and careers. Another lie is that mental health struggles are a sign of weakness—when in truth, they’re a human reality that we all need to address openly.
We also convince ourselves that taking care of staff is a “bonus” rather than the foundation of a thriving business. Too often, profit is prioritized over people, and yet we act surprised when turnover is high and morale is low. These beliefs keep our industry stuck in cycles of exploitation and silence. At Cafe86SA, we’re challenging those lies by proving that you can build a strong, profitable business and still prioritize wellness, respect, and sustainability for the people who make it all possible.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Right now, I’m laying the groundwork for Cafe86SA to become the largest national mental health support network for workers in every industry. We’re building state-by-state resource maps, expanding peer-to-peer programs, and developing partnerships that will take years to fully mature. This is a long game—changing workplace culture and creating lasting systems of support isn’t something that happens quickly.
The seeds we’re planting today—our community outreach, app development, and sponsor network—will take 7–10 years to reach their full potential. But when they do, they will create a legacy of accessibility, safety, and hope for workers who might otherwise feel alone. Every late night, every connection made now, is an investment in a future where no worker has to face mental health challenges in isolation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cafe86sa.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafe86sa
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenpaprocki
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cafe86sa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cafe86sa
- Other: https://www.launchpass.com/cafe86sa/supporter
https://www.instagram.com/paprockistephen
Image Credits
Cafe86sa
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