New coffee shop aims to help foster kids
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
You can't miss this colorful facade. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
After adopting their son from foster care and learning to roast their own beans, Justin and Sam Roberts conceived the idea of starting a nonprofit coffee shop in their neighborhood to support teens aging out of the foster care system.
Why it matters: Neighbors Coffee and Hospitality is collaborating with local foster agencies to enhance employment opportunities and rates for young adults, while also creating a safe and welcoming environment for families in the area.
- They also make a great cappuccino.
Driving the news: The cafe opened in the Marlborough neighborhood on Aug. 10 with a menu of bites and basic coffee beverages, indoor and outdoor seating, and even a playground for the kiddos.
Context: Justin and Sam Roberts were inspired to help the foster care community after fostering and adopting their son in 2021.
- "My roommate in college, he was adopted at 11," Justin Roberts tells Axios. "That's where I first learned about the foster system."
Zoom in: Neighbors Coffee is a workforce nonprofit, meaning they're able to raise funds and provide development opportunities.
- Foster apprentices will be employed for six months, paid full-time and attend monthly classes on subjects like entrepreneurship.
- "We have all the teachers lined up," Roberts says. "A lot of them just volunteer their time, and they just want to pour into these students."
Between the lines: Only half of the people who age out of the foster care system become gainfully employed by the time they turn 24, according to the National Foster Youth Institute.
What to expect: The small cafe is bright, airy, and brimming with young families. Children play under a shady willow tree, and a playground beckons behind an expansive patio in the back (away from the street).
- It's a wholesome spot in a part of town with few close-by options — and within easy driving distance from Brookside and Waldo.
What to try: Staff recommended the avocado toast, a fan favorite that comes on a plate shaped like a slice of bread and did not disappoint.
- The espresso is smooth, slightly nutty and not overly sour or bitter.
- Staff also touted their matcha lattes and drip coffee.
What's next: The shop plans to hire its first two foster apprentices in September.