Kari Olsen

Kari Alice Olsen is the founder and Mission Developer of Shobi’s Table, a Pay-As-You-Can Cafe and Community that extends the hospitality, justice, and mercy of the communion table to everyday kitchen counters. She brings her professional culinary experience and spiritual formation as a deacon to create sustainable ministry on the margins, drawing from her background in professional kitchens, including Holden Village. Through Shobi’s Table, she builds bridges between traditional church spaces and community gathering places, transforming meals into opportunities for connection and grace. Originally from Washington State, Kari lives with her husband Andrew and their two-year-old daughter Nora.