At 1951 Coffee Company we blend the warmth of coffee with the strength of community to uplift refugees on their journey to new beginnings in the United States. We do so by providing job training and employment to refugees and immigrants at our cafe in Berkeley . Our name is derived from the UNHCR’s 1951 Refugee Convention which first defined and set forth guidelines for the protection of refugees. In the spirit of this convention, 1951 Coffee works with refugees to help them overcome the unique barriers they face in seeking and sustaining employment.

At Refugee and Immigrant Transitions (RIT), we welcome and partner with people who have sought refuge, employing strengths-based educational approaches and community supports so they may thrive in our shared communities. We do so by provideing free education, family engagement, and community leadership programs. Our students have sought refuge due to war, violence, persecution, or economic duress.

The partnership between 1951 Coffee and RIT has been ongoing since 2016. However, in 2023, our two organizations joined efforts to create a new Youth Barista Training Program serving high school age youth and early adults (15-24). RIT works extensively in the high schools of San Francisco and the East Bay to support newcomer youth. We oversee recruitment for the training cohorts, providing transportation to and from the class, interpreter support for those still learning English, and post-training in-school support. 1951 Coffee provides 1-week of free hands-on barista training at our training lab in Oakland, free lunch for each student each day of class, and post-training employment support.

Evelyn, 1951 Coffee’s Barista Training Program Manager and Instructor, has a strong affinity with this group of students from RIT. Growing up on coffee farms in Guatemala, Evelyn came to 1951 Coffee right after graduating from high school in Oakland in 2020. She quickly kindled a love for working in the coffee industry as it connected to her life experience before coming to the United States. Throughout the course of teaching the Youth Barista Training Class, Evelyn has been able to share that love of coffee with many young students including those who also grew up in coffee producing countries from Central and South America to East Africa and Yemen. Our evening together will explore building these bridges between home and the future--allowing you to participate in opening doors for youth and adults in the American coffee industry and working together to write new golden stories of hope and possibility.

Golden Stories: Building Bridges

An evening of solidarity and support