Wildflyer Coffee is putting down roots.
After three years serving hand-brewed coffee from a cart at events and farmers markets, Wildflyer – a coffee company that employs homeless youth – is raising money to open a storefront. Co-founder Carley Kammerer told Minne Inno the team is working to secure private donations and grants now and plans to start a crowdfunding effort this fall. They aim to raise $165,000 to cover the first couple months of a lease and outfitting the space.
Formerly Gutter Punk Coffee, Wildflyer rebranded this year. Kammerer said it better depicts their hopes for the young people they employ. She and co-founder Ben Griswold started the nonprofit in 2017 as a way to work with homeless youth, teaching them job and life skills in a nine-month program that involves working as a barista.
Griswold brings a background in finance and coffee roasting. In addition to selling pour-overs and cold-brew coffee at the Fulton and Linden Hills farmers markets and at events, Wildflyer roasts and sells coffee through its website.
His extracurricular interest is one reason he and Kammerer, a former social worker, decided to work together. He wanted to use his skills for a social enterprise. She wanted to keep pursuing her passion. She said she has always felt at home working with youth, even before she started her career. She believes one positive relationship with an adult is all it takes to change someone’s life. “They’re at such a critical point in their lives,” she said. “I saw that in my own life and wanted to be that to someone else eventually.”
Wildflyer started small on purpose, with just a handful of baristas working five to 10 hours a week with Kammerer and Griswold. Eleven youth have gone through the program so far. Nearly three-quarters of them have graduated from the program with stable housing and employment, Kammerer estimated.
Wildflyer focuses on personal and professional development. They learn the ins and outs of coffee, customer service, and other employment skills like how to prioritize tasks and talk to a manager. They also bring in professionals and community partners to teach life skills. Soon, they’ll meet with a group from 3M that will help their current staff explore careers, work on resumes, and practice interviewing for jobs.
One former barista has stayed in the food industry. He wants to open a food truck someday, Kammerer said. During the last phase of Wildflyer program, which focuses on transitioning out of the coffee company, he landed a job with a food truck where he can start to learn the ropes. “He’s really loving it,” she said.
A retail space would allow them to bring on more staff, give employees full-time hours, and pay them better, Kammerer said.
“We’re really excited about the prospect of getting into an actual space,” Kammerer said.
