Arboretum Coffee: Creating a Culture of Community
Starting as a seed, trees burst from the ground not as a formidable tree, but instead as a soft tender little seedling. As they grow, each ring of the tree reflects growth, environment, and strength of the tree. What once was a little seedling can one day grow into trees as big as the redwoods, but it takes the right environment and the opportunity to grow.
The communities in Northern Colorado are in a changing season, which is reflected in our “rings”. There are many changing things in our environment, but Arboretum Coffee saw the changes in immigration and refugee patterns in Northern Colorado and chose to do something about it. Hannah Norris, founder of Arboretum Coffee, saw the community’s response to the Venezuelan refugees in Fort Collins and quickly realized that the community was not ready to receive these individuals in the manner they needed. Specifically, employment for immigrants and refugees was difficult on a couple different layers.
Coffee is a great way to start getting to know someone. We have the opportunity to sit down and slow down, listen to the person sitting next to you. There are so many people in our community, but we have the opportunity to know others and be known by others, in an increasingly socially isolated world, this is such a gift!
Currently, employment for immigrants/refugees often does not offer growth or dignity to the individual. Many may be disqualified for positions due to their lack of work experience in the US or their English proficiency is not high enough. This leaves jobs that are low paying, isolating, and may not use the skillset the individual is bringing to the community. However, due to the lack of resources when arriving in their new homes, many people have to decide between work to provide for them and their families, and growth opportunities (like language classes, further education, etc.).
Arboretum Coffee is aptly named to be a space of enjoyment, beauty, rest, and discovery, in the same way arboretums (which are botanical gardens devoted to trees) are able to do. This project is meant to use coffee as a bridge between people to make our community a place for all who are here to flourish. Having seen and heard the struggles of immigrants and refugees, Arboretum created their Apprenticeship Program to assist the needs voiced by those with lived experience.
The Arboretum’s Apprenticeship Program is built on relationships. All participants have a mentor in the community who is coming alongside them to pursue goals set out by the apprentice. This may include applying for a green card, getting a driver’s license, pursuing a certification, and more. These mentors are all volunteers in the community who want to come alongside one another as they integrate into the Northern Colorado community.
While the program has a small requirement for English, there are opportunities for further language classes if the individual desires it. Additionally, the environment of a coffee shop allows a supplemental immersive English environment even if they do not choose to take classes. The program allows all apprentices to work toward their personal goals, while having the security of 1 year in a job in the US, which will help them with employment after the program is complete. During the year, they are building foundational work skills specific to the US as well as other life skills. Other life skills may include: food safety, customer service, conflict resolution, business management, financial literacy, career prep, and more. In December 2024, Arboretum will be celebrating their first “ring of growth” as their first cohort graduates from the program.
The cultural environment of Arboretum is a place where people can feel truly welcomed. Everyone involved cultivates an environment of excellence, while valuing discovery and diversity. The hope is for this environment to be a microcosm of what is going on in the broader community. Arboretum is a humble leader in taking away the “us vs. them” mentality, while bringing awareness of the immigrants and refugees in Northern Colorado. This is accomplished through their five values.
- Mutuality
- Human-Centered Work
- The Table
- Courageous Learning
- Craftsmanship
I think we all can look at those values and agree this is what we would like not only in a workplace, but also in the community we live in, play in, raise the next generation in, and more. We have a beautiful community, but there is still more growth that needs to happen.
There are a couple organizations in the community that work with this population in Northern Colorado if you are interested in learning more: ISAAC NoCo, Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, The Family Center/La Familia, Fuerza Latina, Alianza NorCo, and Lutheran Family Services. It also means a lot simply to show up to events to physically/visibly show your support for the various members in our community. It can be daunting to start learning and getting involved amongst all the other commitments in life but one way to show up is to come to the café, learn the stories of the apprentices, and let them know your story. Become a regular, where relationships are at the center and everyone feels like they have the place.
Coffee is a great way to start getting to know someone. We have the opportunity to sit down and slow down, listen to the person sitting next to you. There are so many people in our community, but we have the opportunity to know others and be known by others, in an increasingly socially isolated world, this is such a gift!
I hesitate to share this, but one of my favorite spots in the town of Fort Collins is quickly becoming the yellow chairs in the corner of the shop. I feel like I can tuck myself away and breathe for a couple moments in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the world. Although I am not an apprentice, Arboretum created a space for me to simply feel cared for and rest, as if I were sitting in a luscious arboretum.