I recently had the great pleasure of taking part in a wonderful program administered by The Youth Employment Institute in North Portland. YEI is a non- profit organization that provides employment, training, and job skills for at risk youth. YEI’s Financial Coordinator, Dan Delany, previously owned Java Planet, a SE Morrison cafe, which carried Portland Roasting coffee and was rumored to have some of the city’s “best breakfast burritos.” When he contacted us to participate as one of the job training providers, we had to jump at the chance.
Our training program kicked off earlier this month with four smiling and eager students. Training is always a pleasure, and this group was one of my favorites. This class was customized to include a mix of Coffee Fundamentals and Barista Training so these trainees are now equipped with everything they need to succeed in Portland’s expansive coffee community. YEI gives them extensive customer service training and will place them in jobs. I look forward to continue training these wonderful kids.
