The village we built

Six older Greek men sitting shoulder to shoulder on a bench outside a whitewashed village kafenio

The same bench, reimagined: women, a child and a man of mixed backgrounds sitting together in the same poses

Who we were, why we gathered, and the woman who dared to build a global heart in Silicon Valley.

“A village means that you are not alone, knowing that in the people, the trees, the earth, there is something that belongs to you, waiting for you when you are not there.” — Cesare Pavese

Where the name comes from

The origin of Kafenia

In Greek village life, the kafenio was the center of everything — a coffeehouse where men gathered to share food, friendship, politics, and stories.

Mary Jane’s grandfather had his own kafenio at 16th and Folsom in San Francisco in the 1920s, bootlegging ouzo during Prohibition. But it was only for men. As his granddaughter, Mary Jane reimagined it — keeping the old-world warmth but opening the doors to everyone, with women and diverse voices front and center.

The name also draws from philoxenia: the Greek love of strangers, a deep hospitality toward the other. That word is woven into every gathering Kafenia ever held.

Hover, tap or focus to see the kafenio reimagined

As featured in World Pulse Written by Mary Jane Marcus · April 2022

“Reimagining the Greek Village ‘Men’s Cafe’ in Palo Alto”

“My grandfather had a kafenio at 16th and Folsom in San Francisco in the 1920s. Somehow, I decided I could reimagine this Greek tradition — descended from the ancient symposia — but more inclusive, and with a feminine spirit.”

In this piece for World Pulse — the global media platform amplifying women’s voices from 190 countries — Mary Jane tells the story behind Kafenia’s name and origins. The kafenio, or Greek coffeehouse, was the beating heart of village life for centuries: a place where men gathered to share food, friendship, politics, and stories. Her grandfather kept that spirit alive in San Francisco during Prohibition. But it was only for men.

When MJ began interviewing women in Palo Alto about what they were missing, she heard the same refrain from nearly everyone: there is a lot of social contact here, but very little deep contact. That single insight became the founding thesis of Kafenia: that what Silicon Valley needed wasn’t more networking, but more genuine human connection — the kind that had existed in village squares for thousands of years.

“Instead of visiting Google or Facebook, come visit the Kafenia.”

Read the full story on World Pulse → (opens in a new tab)

Mary Jane Marcus on a rooftop in Athens at sunset — Mary Jane Marcus in Athens, Greece — rooftop at sunset

Founder · Kafenia Peace Collective

Mary Jane Moutsanas

MSW · Peacebuilder · Community Weaver · Global Spirit

Mary Jane didn’t set out to build a movement. She just wanted to hang out.

Growing up in Silicon Valley in an interfaith household — her mom Catholic, her dad Greek Orthodox — she spent every Sunday moving between two worlds. She didn’t have a name for it yet, but she was already practicing what would become Kafenia: the radical, simple act of welcoming people across every kind of difference.

“I think I just was born this way. I just feel for the world.”

She studied international relations at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, became a social worker, and traveled widely. It wasn’t until her mid-thirties that the pieces clicked into place. Her neighbor was from Lebanon. A man named Mohammad found them from Libya. They kept gathering. It was 2016, and something about the moment made people hungry for exactly this — a table where you could belong.

“People were lost. They didn’t feel welcome. And then they felt: I’m at home now.”

For ten years, Mary Jane built that home. Through Peace Meals that went viral across Libya. Through a COVID rent fund that housed 350+ families. Through weekly Wednesday nights that anchored a global community. Now she continues through her work as a scholar-practitioner. She can be reached at maryjane.moutsanas@gmail.com.

“I did this for ten years. And we created something real.”

Mary Jane in her grandfather’s village in Greece, 2012 — Mary Jane in her Grandfather’s Village in 2012

Mary Jane in her grandfather’s village in Greece, 2026 — Mary Jane in her Grandfather’s Village in 2026

Board & Kickstart Kafenia team

We had an incredible group of volunteers — our Board, leadership, staff and our Kickstart Kafenia team who was helping Mary Jane open a space. We were rooted in sharing and helping each other – so every gathering people volunteered to organize, to lead, to facilitate. Mary Jane can’t thank you enough!

Mohamed Geshash, Mirna Mustapha, Caroline Huart, Barbara Weinstein, Alison Rith, Mari Pearman, Su Fern Lee, Genie Njolito, Flora Sullivan, Ruby Sodhi, Jutta Ferrer, Kala Mehta, Maria Tammelini, Rose, Karla — and everyone who set up chairs and stayed late.

Leadership & Staff

Barbara Weinstein was my co-lead for the final years of Kafenia. Thank you for helping keep it going, and bringing on our beautiful team. The last season we brought on two incredible staff — Rose Mekdussadeerom and Karla Moreno. It was not only inspiring to engage the next generation, we had a great time. Karla and Barbara are now co-leading much of a new project — Global Heartbeat.