Opportunity Coffee and Cafe
Serving HOPE one cup at a time…
Coming Soon!
Gospel Rescue Mission has identified a significant need for hands-on vocational training within the community we serve. Our goal is to create a welcoming and comfortable gathering space that provides essential knowledge, skills, and abilities for our guests. This space will offer individuals the opportunity to relax and enjoy a variety of amenities, including high-quality coffee, tea, pastries, and small plates. Currently, the available options in the area often fall short, as they can become overcrowded and may not provide the safe and relaxing environment many seek.
GRM SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
Gospel Rescue Mission’s Social Social Enterprise provides practical experience and training for individuals experiencing homelessness to manage a business. The program aims to empower individuals with necessary skills and resources for success in the business realm while promoting foundational values of love, hope, dignity, and respect.
Participants receive classroom-style learning, access to training materials, and hands-on experience operating real business brands. The first initiative is Opportunity Coffee and Cafe, starting with a coffee trailer and expanding into a full-service coffee shop and cafe.
Future plans include a retail store, event planning services, and food trucks.
THE MOBILE COFFEE CAFE
GRM’s Mobile Coffee Cafe, in collaboration with Pima Community College and Blessed Grounds Coffee, will function as a practical training ground for individuals pursuing careers in business and culinary arts. This innovative initiative aims to empower participants by providing hands-on experience and education, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the competitive business landscape.
Opportunity Coffee and Cafe, once opened, will strive to be more than just a place for coffee and light dining. It aims to be a haven for individuals seeking a respite from life’s everyday demands, providing a warm, inviting space for socializing with friends and a tranquil environment for both work and leisure.
At Opportunity Coffee and Cafe, patrons will be able to relish their favorite coffee in a cozy and welcoming environment, all while supporting the Gospel Rescue Mission’s mission to develop crucial business and entrepreneurial skills in its guests.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM
Our 18-week job training program is designed to provide comprehensive and immersive training in the coffee industry and entrepreneurship. Participants will be equipped with specialized coffee and cafe-related skills, essential habits, and competencies applicable to various industries.
Our ultimate aim is to support participants in transitioning from an unstable state to a stable one by equipping them with job expertise, valuable resources, and a strong support system. The program is divided into three distinct tiers: business training, culinary Arts training, and practical experience, each focusing on specific aspects of the coffee industry employment and the broader job market. During the business skills training phase, participants will receive intensive training to develop soft skills in customer service and team dynamics. This stage will focus on refining technical skills and cultivating essential soft skills such as communication, customer service, and teamwork under pressure.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE & MENTORSHIP
The practicum portion of the program lasts for ten weeks, providing an intensive and immersive learning experience. This opportunity is open to four individuals who have successfully completed the foundational business and culinary training. These selected participants will be paired with dedicated mentors, who are volunteers from Tucson’s restaurant industry. These mentors will play a pivotal role in guiding and supporting the participants as they navigate the intricacies of the hospitality trade.
Throughout the program, the guests will have the invaluable opportunity to work closely with GRM program management staff and a dedicated team of coaches. These coaches are specifically trained to provide hands-on guidance, ensuring that the participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the daily operations involved in running a successful coffee shop cafe.
Under the guidance and support of their mentors, coaches, and GRM staff, the four chosen participants will be entrusted with the responsibility of managing all aspects of the business. This hands-on experience is designed to equip them with the practical skills and knowledge required for entry-level to mid-management positions within the hospitality industry.
Ultimately, this comprehensive experience aims to not only increase their earning potential but also to enhance their prospects for long-term financial and personal success. Students will be trained in:
- Preparing and serving beverages
- Serving food
- Customer service
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Stocking and ordering
- Cash handling
- Following health and safety guidelines
- Working with others
- Teaching Flexibility
GRM SOCIAL ENTERPRISES—CONCEPT AND PURPOSE
GRM’s social enterprises provide employment opportunities for marginalized individuals, offering not just jobs, but also guidance and a nurturing environment. Programs for individuals experiencing homelessness provide a stable work environment and comprehensive support to address their needs, aiming to break down barriers and provide opportunities for those facing challenges.
Characteristics of Social Enterprises:
- One or more social or environmental goals
- Focus on acquiring funds from goods and
services, not just grants and donations - Incorporation of nonprofit and for-profit
business structures
How it Helps Homeless Individuals:
- Support channels and skill-training opportunities
- Prospects for an independent source of income
- Opens doors to professional networks
- Builds dignity and self-respect
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES—COMMUNITY BENEFITS
GRM’s Social Enterprise plays a pivotal role in empowering individuals by enhancing their confidence, expanding their job knowledge, honing their skills, and nurturing their abilities, ultimately resulting in a decrease in:
- Unemployment—People are classified as unemployed if they do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and are currently available for work.
- Poverty—If a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty.
- Lack of Affordable Housing—Affordable housing is generally defined as housing on which the occupant is paying no more than 30 percent of gross income for housing costs, including utilities.
- Lower Workforce Productivity—Lower number of people available and prepared to enter the workforce.
- Lost Business Revenue—Homeless camps that are set up in business districts can create blight (the smell, sight, and encounter of human waste as well as tents) and fear for potential consumers, thereby diminishing people’s desire to shop in that area.
- Lost Tax Revenue—Lower amounts of tax dollars generated due to a lower number of people in the workforce as well as people shopping in business districts with high levels of encampments.
- Healthcare Costs—Increased costs to the Healthcare System due to increased usage of emergency services (ambulance/paramedics/fire dept., emergency room care, etc.) because of a lack of healthcare.
- Public Services Costs—Increased costs associated with Police, the Criminal Justice System, Incarceration (Jail), public works such as maintenance (park and homeless camp cleanups, etc.)
Give the gift of a life-changing opportunity for others to discover a new life.
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