Wildflyer Coffee

Our team came together yesterday for Homeless Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol–our first major advocacy effort together as a team! We heard from numerous community members and leaders including Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and we had the opportunity to speak with our elected officials–highlighting the importance of lived experience and how crucial stable employment is for youth wanting to exit homelessness. Our community members shared their demands for more dignified spaces for unhoused neighbors to feel supported and to gain stability. We were proud to listen to a Wildflyer Graduate hold the stage and share about the importance of youth voices in these exchanges. “Homelessness is not a personal failure, it’s a societal one.” . . . #Wildflyer #WildflyerCoffee #EndYouthHomelessness #HomelessDayOnTheHill

??Guess who’s turning two?! And guess who gets a free cookie…might just be YOU ?? Check out our March Newsletter to learn more! Find all your current Wildflyer news at https://lnkd.in/d9E8T84h.

Volunteers needed! One month ahead of each graduating cohort, our baristas have the opportunity to hone their interview skills through mock interview events. This is an excellent volunteer moment for our community–if you are someone with experience in the workforce and feel comfortable asking interview questions and providing constructive feedback, please get in touch with us. Each volunteer will interview 2 youth, providing interview and resume feedback, for a 2-hour total time commitment. Plus, you’ll get a free Wildflyer beverage of your choice ?? We have immediate needs for shifts on Wednesday, March 19 at our Minneapolis shop with slots from 12-2pm and 3-5pm. If you’re interested, send an email to [email protected].

Registration for Homeless Day on the Hill at the State Capitol closes TODAY (Friday 2/21)! Our team will be participating this year and we encourage our community to attend to support unhoused community members and local organizations like Wildflyer who are standing up against homelessness. Show up, share your support, and listen. Our team has expressed interest in participating in more advocacy work and we are grateful that we’ll be able to come together on this important day. Register your attendance at https://lnkd.in/gKR8qhVk.

In September we introduced a new role at Wildflyer. Our Program Leads are skilled baristas who focus on providing trauma-informed, inclusive coffee training plus on-the-job support to our individual cohort members. We asked one of our Minneapolis Program Leads, Juliet (she/her/hers) to share a little about herself and her experience at Wildflyer! ??Your shop’s vibes in three words? Cozy, friendly, and silly ??Favorite mission moment? A cohort member was asked about the most valuable thing they learned at Wildflyer and responded, “how to ask for help.” ?What can you share with this community about the youth you work with? They are incredibly driven and passionate about the work they are doing. They take a lot of pride in the skills they are honing, and enjoy showing off and hyping each other up! ?What’s your go-to drink for an early morning shift? Black coffee or cold brew ??Favorite book? Red Dragon by Thomas Harris ??Current favorite musical artist? Florence & The Machine ??What does dignified employment mean to you? Feeling safe, secure, and valued for your contribution

?? Love is in the air at Wildflyer! Check out our February Newsletter to learn more about our Share the Love Gift Card Drive, a Valentine’s Bake Sale, our new Program Lead position, read a message from our Executive Director Carley Kammerer, and jot down some important Save the Dates! Get all your February Wildflyer news at https://lnkd.in/gSDZZUH9 . . . #Wildflyer #WildflyerCoffee #EndYouthHomelessness

Thank you to The Bank of America Marketplace by Seneca Women for inviting Wildflyer to be a part of their community. They strive to be the leading platform for women-owned and mission based businesses. We’re proud to be a part of it, and proud to be a woman-led organization. To learn a little more about Wildflyer and other women-owned/led businesses, visit https://lnkd.in/g83mqKMZ.

We were honored to celebrate Avivo Day at Minneapolis City Hall on Wednesday, January 29! Avivo was recognized for its work to end homelessness and its partnership with Wildflyer, providing wages, support services, and career counseling for our youth. We are grateful for this partnership–recognized in the proclamation as follows: “Avivo and Wildflyer expanded its partnership...further increasing the people served and subsequent impact for the community, [working to] develop programming to pair the technical skills and credentials learned as a barista with the work readiness and soft skill development taught by Avivo. This one-stop approach simplifies the process for young people, many of whom are experiencing crisis by bringing all services under one roof and allowing them to learn essential skills with robust support in a real world environment.” Give Avivo a shout-out for their positive impact in the Twin Cities community! You can read the full story at wildflyercoffee.com/press.

When you visit our shops, you’re not just a customer—you’re a vital part of our community and our Work & Life Skills Training Program. Your support empowers Wildflyer baristas to strengthen their skills in customer service, shop operations, and crafting beautifully poured lattes. . . . #Wildflyer #WildflyerCoffee #EndYouthHomelessness

Thank you to our wonderful partners at Caribou Coffee for leading the Wildflyer Customer Service Workshop for each new cohort. In this collaborative workshop youth learn how to show up engaged for their customers and coworkers. They work on practical exercises to better understand how to create a welcoming environment at any workplace, and the Caribou team also explains how workplace evaluations and reviews play out–helping prepare our youth baristas for any future position they might have. Our strong partnership with Caribou has made such an impact on the young people who work with us at Wildflyer and we are so grateful for their support of our mission.