Denver, Colorado is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. It also has one of the biggest populations of homeless young people. A Denver coffee shop is seeking to resolve the problem. The Purple Door Coffee Shop employs and trains homeless young people, giving them a second chance to make a new start.
Kevin: "Welcome! What can I get for you guys?" For many years of his life, Kevin Persons lived on the street. Today, he is working behind the counter of a coffee bar, serving coffee. He is also working to move off the streets and into a home.
What makes it a little easier is the mission of the Purple Door Coffee shop. It does not just serve a cup of coffee; it turns lives around.
The owners of the two-year-old nonprofit hire three to four young adults per year. "When someone has lived in terrible stress and harm for as long as these young people have, every day fighting for survival, they haven't had the opportunity of how to learn conflict management, how to manage money, and how to pay their rent on time."
Those skills are exactly what employment at Purple Door offer.
Madison Chandler is a co-founder of Purple Door. She and her partner meet with their workers individually each week. They talk about topics ranging from mental health, finance, hygiene(卫生) and customer service. They also provide a life coach to make sure the workers have the support and skills that will set them up for success.
Madison Chandler says at the end of Purple Door's first year, their four graduates were ready to start a new part of their lives. The experience at the coffee shop helped them get jobs.
Kevin recognizes that he is learning what he needs to leave the struggles of homelessness and learn the skills to live a full life. "They seem to have the philosophy that they don't want to change us, they want to help us change ourselves."
For Madison Chandler, providing these young adults with employment and education and helping them become confident and independent is the most rewarding part of her job.
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