Black Coffee Northwest grounded is a Black owned non-profit organization serving the greater King County area while supporting local youth and young adults with employment and training opportunities, after-school enrichment activities, and mental health support.
Black Coffee Northwest Grounded is a 501(c)3 Organization
EIN 85-3310755
Workforce Development
Black Coffee Northwest hosts a 12-week internship program for youth and young adults ages 16 to 22 to participate in weekly skills-training classes, on-site barista training, and job internships with local businesses. Participants have the option to serve as a barista or social justice intern. The core program mission is to support and encourage youth and young adults during their internship to build confidence and prepare them for the workplace.
Barista interns learn the art of making coffee, including pulling shots, steaming milk, and barista bar operations. Interns leave the program with knowledge to secure an entry level Barista job. Social Justice interns learn their rights, how to organize protests, and gain connections with people who work in social justice. All interns receive support in resume development and earn a stipend and school volunteer hours, job placement assistance, and a professional reference upon completion of the internship. Interns are committed to serving the community, racial equality, and social justice and play a role in developing and improving the internship program for future interns. In 2022, Black Coffee Northwest had 75 youth successfully complete the internship program with a 98% job placement rate. In 2021, 40 youth successfully completed the internship program with a 89% job placement rate.
Creating Community
Black Coffee Northwest offers free after school enrichment activities and mental health services to youth and young adults ages 10 to 19. Mental health services include individual counseling and therapist-led group counseling to build basic mental health skills.
In addition to their core business services, Black Coffee Northwest (BCNW) serves as a community hub for local Black small business owners, community leaders and activists, and educators to come together, which is central to the BCNW mission and values. BCNW hosts a Black business market on-site weekly and has deep conversations on their Grounded Conversations podcast. BCNW continues to provide and expand on these services and partnerships even while facing the complexities and financial challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contact us: [email protected]