One of the coolest things about coffee is how it can be used as a catalyst for change. Today we are going to be talking with someone who has built one of the best examples of how a business with a vision can make real progress for inclusion.
We are talking with Lindsay Wredge, Co-founder of 321 Coffee in Raleigh, NC!
321 Coffee is a coffee shop and roaster built on inclusion. Based in Raleigh, NC, 321 currently employs over 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). They are the ones roasting the coffee, taking the orders, and making the lattes and in this and many other ways 321 is demonstrating the value of an inclusive business model.
The name "321 Coffee" is representative of Down syndrome, which occurs when an individual has 3 copies of the 21st chromosome.
The company was founded in 2017 by Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans. The two met during their freshman year as Park Scholars at NC State University. They had the vision to build a company founded on inclusion. 321 Coffee started with a couple folding tables and a home coffee brewer set up anywhere that would welcome them. These events helped to develop a presence in the community. Raleigh rallied behind the mission and helped 321 grow beyond those folding tables.
Today, 321 Coffee operates multiple coffee shops in the Raleigh area and is actively finding new opportunities to expand our impact. We roast our own coffee, offer a full-scale espresso menu, and partner with over 100 different companies to provide them with coffee. Together, we are building a company that stands for inclusion and doing business the right way.
We discuss
- The origins of 321 Coffee
- The importance of inclusive employment and community impact
- Starting with a low-barrier mobile coffee shop
- Designing accessible operations and training for employees with disabilities
- Maintaining quality and integrity at scale while staying true to the mission
- Leadership qualities and character traits essential for growth
- Scaling operations from a small cart to multiple cafes and wholesale
- Strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining diverse talent
- The role of community and customer relationships in success
- Future outlook and advice for other coffee businesses interested in inclusion
Links:
www.321coffee.com
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