Our Program
We provide youth aged 16-24 with a four-month employment training program to cultivate the personal and professional skills needed to find and maintain stable employment and leave homelessness for good.
Month 1
HARD SKILLS
Register & Menu Training
Menu Tour & Tasting
Toast Training
SOFT SKILLS
JRA Workshop
Customer Service Workshop
JRA Review #1 + Self Reflection
CHECK-INS
Meet with Support Staff 2-3x per month to coordinate services/resources and discuss progress in the program.
Month 2
HARD SKILLS
On the Floor - Internship (Month 1)
Bar Training
Bar Training Q&A + Dial In Workshop
SOFT SKILLS
Mental Health & The Workplace
Financial Wellness Workshop
JRA #1 + Self-Reflection
CHECK-INS
Meet with Employment Counselor 2-3x per month to discuss career exploration, education options, and future employment opportunities.
Month 3
HARD SKILLS
On the Floor - Internship (Month 2)
Milk Steaming Workshop
Youth Takeover Event
SOFT SKILLS
Resumes in Coffee Workshop
Mock Interviews Event
JRA Review #2 + Self Reflection
CHECK-INS
Meet with Support Staff 2-3x per month to coordinate services/resources and discuss progress in the program.
Month 4
HARD SKILLS
On the Floor - Internship (Month 3)
Latte Art Workshop
SOFT SKILLS
Cohort Crossover - Networking Event
CHECK-INS
Meet with Career Counselor 2-3x per month to discuss career exploration, education options, and future employment opportunities.
Hard Skills
Training & Employment
Training: Register/Menu, Bar Training, and various coffee specific workshops.
Approx. 15–18hrs per week of paid employment at the coffee shop doing customer service, drink creation, and shop upkeep.
Goal: Participants will be a trained barista by the end of their time in the Wildflyer Coffee Work Experience Program!
Soft Skills
Job Readiness Assessment (JRA)
Complete a 4hr workshop with the Program Manager and Shift Lead around job readiness skills including Attendance/Punctuality, Communication, and Workplace Performance.
Complete two reviews with management to discuss areas of growth and opportunities throughout the program.
Goal: Participants will build and sharpen their employability skills to take to their next employment opportunity!
Customer Service Workshop
A customer service training that focuses on communication, a customer’s experience in the shop, and how to lead transactions with customers. Facilitated by Caribou Coffee leadership team.
Goal: Participants will build skills in customer service that will be rooted in coffee but will be applicable to any career field they go into next!
Mental Health & The Workplace
Therapists from MoveFWD come to Wildflyer to facilitate two workshops around work/life balance, self-care, and general mental health support.
Goal: Participants will learn how to manage their life stressors at work and manage some initial mental health issues!
Financial Wellness Workshop
A workshop facilitated by Lutheran Social Services (LSS) that focuses on the basics of personal finance. This could include budgeting, setting up a bank account, credit cards, and how to build your savings - topics are discussed and decided upon by participants prior to the session. Participants are also able to opt into 1v1 financial counseling to focus on their individual financial goals.
Goal: You will learn how to create your own budget based on your needs, wants, and lifestyle!
Mock Interviews Event
Work with your Employment Counselor to create your “how to kill an interview” toolbox - including what to highlight on your resume, how to choose a great reference, and even what to wear. You will then participate in a series of interviews with local professionals to help you perfect your next interview.
Goal: You will develop the skills to feel confident going into your next interview!
Cohort Crossover - Networking Event
Summarize your experience at Wildflyer Coffee and participate in a “panel discussion” style event with the incoming cohort.
Goal: You will develop the skills to speak confidently about your work experience and your future goals!
Supports at Wildflyer
1v1 Employment Counselor
Youth Baristas are paired up with their own Employment Counselor to do career counseling/exploration, work on their resume and interview skills, and ultimately obtain employment prior to graduation from the program.
Meeting with Support Staff
Work 1v1 with the Youth Shop Manager and/or Program Manager to address barriers to employment (mental health, housing, basic needs, vital documents, etc.), coordinate resources/services, and establish goals throughout time in the WFC Program.