Brewing Up TAY Job Training Programs

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

Life can be challenging for foster youth. Up to 25% of Transitional Age Youth (TAY) struggle to transition into adulthood, finding difficulties with school, employment, and earning stable wages. The Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has identified Northeast LA (zip codes 90032, 90042, 90065) as having the highest number of referrals and open cases within the 51-zip code service area. To address this, DCFS has asked Coffee With A Cause (CWAC) to open a second cafe to connect youth, local businesses, and the community in support of TAY who have experienced foster care, homelessness, and justice system involvement.
It began with serving coffee around LA from a small coffee cart and has led to Rosebud Coffee, Pasadena’s first social enterprise cafe. With 100% of profits going to Coffee With A Cause, Rosebud has raised over $57,000 for the TAY job training program and is now ready to expand to a second location.

DCFS and Optimus Youth have tapped Coffee With A Cause (CWAC) to open another coffee shop in Northeast LA, aiming to expand its successful social enterprise and double the impact of its job training program. CWAC's mission is to help Transitional Age Youth (TAY) find a pathway to sustainable employment and long-term careers. During a paid internship program, youth receive soft skills training and over 20 hours of hands-on experience in various trades through partnerships with local businesses, such as coffee shops, retail outlets, and landscaping firms. Interns are paid a stipend up to $3,000.
Many interns aspire to become baristas and pursue careers in the field. A new partnership with Starbucks allows youth to interview for positions, providing not only meaningful employment but also access to solid benefits. Last year, three interns, including Trinity, were hired by Starbucks. "I was so proud to talk about not only how to make various drinks, but also how the tasting notes hit different parts of the tongue and how to make suggestions for customers' coffee selection. It made the difference, and I got the job!" said Trinity.
Upon completion of the three-month internship, participants focus on their job search. For the next year, a volunteer mentor supports them in job hunting, job retention, and life skills. These mentors are dedicated community members who undergo screening, training, and ongoing support from our program staff.

With the opening of a second cafe in NorthEast LA as a training site and gathering place for the local community, CWAC will have a replicable model to take to other cities to provide TAY with a proven program that provides a pathway for their future. For former intern Diamond, her pathway was to open her own online business. During her time at the cafe, Diamond took over running the Rosebud coffee cart . She learned how to network, budget and make an expense list which she now also uses for Theelevenshop, her foster youth led candle company in Los Angeles.
A second cafe will mean bringing together a new community of businesses, community volunteers and youth on a pathway to a sustainable career. Alumni leave the program with skills, confidence, a sense of belonging and network of allies for life.
If one cafe can impact 40 youths per year, then a second cafe can double the impact and a replicable program can help thousands throughout LA County.

To ensure another generation of foster youth don’t feel abandoned, we will measure our progress in several ways. In addition to a second social enterprise, we will track:
# TAY interns that will start their path to a self-sustaining career # of Mentors helping the interns transition into adulthood
# of new community and business partners from NorthEast Los Angeles # of jobs secured by interns
# of stipends paid to interns Creation of a Mentor Training Manual to guide volunteers in how to approach their youth in a Trauma Informed manner, using open ended questions, encouragement and active listening to build mutual trust while discussing jobs, schooling and careers
Creation of an Intern Barista Training Manual covering making the perfect espresso shot, drink description/recipes, milk steaming guide, bar cleaning, customer service, and the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) flavor profiles. The ultimate goal is to train interns to earn a Barista Skills Certification from SCA.