We are committed to being a welcoming and inclusive anchor in our community, and for our company to embody our values, in staffing, partnerships, and how we engage with our city and the coffee industry as a whole.
COMPANY VALUES & COMMITMENTS
The inherent value of all people. We expect everyone in our spaces, from staff to customer, to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. We are committed to fostering a café culture where everyone feels valued, supported, safe, and able to live in the fullness of their humanity, regardless of gender identity, gender expression, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, or disability/ability.
Inclusive hiring. From day one, we have been committed to having a gender and racially diverse staff to reflect the community we live in and the customers we serve.
Staff leadership. We hire smart people who are skilled at what they do. From signature menus to shop policies, we value the voices of our staff and include them in our decision making.
Zero-tolerance policy of racial discrimination, sexual harassment, homophobia, and transphobia.
Ongoing personal, internal work of unlearning our participation in white supremacy and oppressive systems and re-education to work in true solidarity of Black, Indigenous, non-black POC, LGBTQIA+, unhoused, immigrant, refugee, & disabled communities.
Operating our businesses through the lens of anti-racism. Our commitment to anti-racism and organizing are values we’ve integrated into our business thoughtfully and intentionally since we’ve opened. This has looked like:
Regular anti-racism training opportunities for our employees through our relationship with Open Table KC
Hosting anti-racism training opportunities for the KC coffee community, as well as the national coffee community during the USBCs hosted in Kansas City in 2019
Regular donation of the use of our event space for BIPOC led community gatherings for students & non-profit organizations
Hiring BIPOC vendors and small businesses as a matter of practice for events and parties. Food vendors, artists, etc.
Sponsor and co-organizer of bringing speaker and anti-racism activist Rachel Cargle to Kansas City in 2019 for a public lecture. Sponsoring and hosting her anti-racism training in our cafe’s event space.
Voter registration drives
Ongoing use of our social media platforms to promote & elevate Black owned businesses in our industry, and to amplify community and national initiatives.
Support of fellow small businesses. Capitalism is very good at pitting us against each other, but we refuse to participate. Scarcity mentality is tempting, but we have faith that there is room for all of us! We have only admiration and respect for our fellow coffee companies and small businesses.