In the spirit of our mission to make a difference in people’s lives through coffee, we work continuously on developing and maintaining relationships with a variety of organizations that focus on the betterment of our community.
Here are a few examples:
Aspire CoffeeWorks is a dynamic social enterprise between Aspire and Metropolis Coffee Company. Founded in 2009 the partnership combines the work of Aspire, a leader in providing bold and pioneering services to kids and adults with disabilities, with the craftsmanship of Metropolis Coffee Company, one of the nation’s top artisan, award-winning coffee roasters.
This creative and mutually beneficial partnership is one in which adults with disabilities on the Aspire CoffeeWorks team work side by side with employees on the Metropolis Coffee Company team. That’s right, at Aspire CoffeeWorks, even the staff is perfectly blended!
It’s a groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind partnership and perfect example of how adults with disabilities can be productive and successful members of the work force. And just as exciting is the fact that 100% of Aspire CoffeeWorks’ proceeds go back to Aspire’s services and programs.
Care for Real’s mission is to help our neighbors in the Edgewater community by providing food, clothing and counseling services to those in need. We do this through on-site food distribution, deliveries to the homebound, a free clothes closet and a case-management program to help clients connect with other services they may need.
Care for Real was established in 1970 by Rev. William Johnson of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement, Rabbi Herman Schaalman of Emanuel Congregation and other members of the Edgewater Clerical Rabbinical Association. This organization, which is now known as the Edgewater Community Religious Association (ECRA), wanted to provide emergency help to victims of fires in “Arson Alley,” the Kenmore-Winthrop corridor between Foster and Devon. It was intended to be a short-term solution to a specific problem. However, it soon became clear that there was a need in Edgewater for an ongoing safety net for neighbors in need. Today Care for Real is the safety net for the entire Edgewater community.
A Safe Haven Foundation is a not-for-profit, social enterprise that helps people aspire, transform and sustain their lives as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose. A Safe Haven provides the tools for each individual to overcome the root causes of homelessness through a holistic and scalable model. A Safe Haven’s visible social and economic impact unites families, stabilizes neighborhoods, and creates vibrant, viable communities.
Metropolis Coffee Company has been making donations to a number of Safe Haven locations.
Chicago Fair Trade (CFT) is the largest fair trade coalition in the USA, comprised of a dedicated base of member businesses, educational institutions, congregations, non-profit organizations, and individual activists. CFT increases support for economic and environmental justice through consumer education, advocacy, and promotion of local fair trade businesses. CFT is proud to be a local and national leader in raising awareness about and building support for fair trade and its principles of environmental sustainability, ethical production methods, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
