Dogwood Coffee and The Get Down Coffee Company share a unique relationship. Over the course of their 10 years in cahoots, Dogwood began as something of a mentor for fellow Minneapolitan, offering The Get Down and its founder Houston White expertise as well as time on their roaster while the fledgling brand gained its footings. Five years later and The Get Down was opening their own cafe, with their own roasting space, and the brands became more like sibling companies.
Now, they are collaborating again on another ambitious new project. The Sweet Renaissance Coffee Academy is a non-profit “dedicated to increasing cultural representation behind the bar and beyond [by] providing training for aspiring baristas, mentorship, and business solutions for emerging roasters.”
Created by White and Dogwood’s Dan and Angie Anderson, the SRCA offers a 30-hour paid residency is a hands-on training and career mentorship program providing individuals in the foundational barista skills and coffee knowledge required to work behind the bar. The program is open to anyone that is part of an underrepresented group as a means to “strengthen the local workforce and expand representation within the coffee industry,” per the press release.
“When coffee shops lose staff, that means they’ll have open shifts needing coverage in two weeks. The cycle of hiring those who already have the experience unfortunately perpetuates obstacles for underrepresented individuals trying to break into the industry,” said Dan Anderson. “We’re working to disrupt that by providing hands-on training and the resources necessary for careers within the coffee industry.”
As part of its wholistic approach, along with barista training, the SRCA also offers a residency program for those looking to roast coffee, which will including learning the trade and access to resources and markets “needed to establish their brands.”
To help fund their efforts, the SRCA operates a white-label roasting program, but they are also actively seeking new partnerships with cafes, roasters, and other businesses who share their mission. Individuals looking to contribute can donate directly to the efforts via their website here.
For more information about the initiative, program dates, or to make a donation, visit The Sweet Renaissance Coffee Academy’s official website.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
