Portland observer., March 04, 2015, Image 5

March 4, 2015
Page 5
PHOTO BY M ARK W ASHINGTON /T HE P ORTLAND O BSERVER
Happy Cup Coffee Operations Manager Adam Bray (from left), the
company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Rachel Bloom, and
Charley Austin, Happy Cup’s head roaster.
Jobs and Hope
continued
from front
difference for many of the adults
coming to her in search of work.
The program led to the develop-
ment of Full Life Recreation at North-
east 33rd Avenue and Sandy Bou-
levard. The site drew support from
state and federal Medicaid funds,
and immediately became a commu-
nity hub for everything from art and
crafts courses to basic skill and trade
skill sharing, all of which helped
many clients feel more ready and
confident in the workplace and
among each other.
The program also succeeded in
being incredibly diverse, welcom-
ing a host of black workers along
with other people of color.
“We are committed to represent-
ing the communities we interact
with,” says Bloom. “We want ev-
eryone to feel welcome whenever
they come to one our locations.”
Bloom admits that despite the joy
and community interest inherent to
Full Life Recreation, it was a con-
stant problem finding enough jobs
to fill the demand. Clients came to
her seeking work, but many employ-
ers found that they could not take
on a learning disabled employee.
Bloom opened up a local farm to
expand job opportunities for her
clients, and continued to make jobs
for them available at the recreation
location and at the job development
office. The clients came in droves,
excited to learn food growing and
sustainability skills, and she hired
many of the job-seekers to plant,
maintain, harvest, and sell produce.
Bloom admits that even with the
success and popularity of the farm,
the organization’s loose ends were
still not being met financially. That’s
when she decided to start Happy
Cup.
Bloom’s has another major
project about ready to start, her Up
Life Community Arts Center. About
two doors down from the coffee
shop, the space will provide a num-
ber of resources and offer services
to clients and community members,
including sewing, painting, ceramic,
and music lessons, and other skills
and creative activities.
Bloom says she is fundraising to
have a kiln built into the new center.
“I think when people see this,
they’ll know we want to be a part of
this community and provide care for
a population that’s deeply in need.
We want to share this place for the
better good,” she says
The Up Life Community Arts
Center is expected to open its doors
sometime soon. Bonded to its café
neighbour for financial support and
complete with a functioning piano
that was generously donated, the
café has already lit up with music
and community members eager to
learn about the new location and the
non-profit center associated with it
through Up Life.
The new Happy Cup also comes
complete with a back room to hold
readings, book groups, or sewing
clubs, which is open to anyone in
the community looking for a meet-
ing location.
For more information or to do-
nate, volunteer, or participate with
Happy Cup or UpLife visit
happycup.com or uplifepdx.org.