He circled the party deck of the ship. He could have been up top looking at the ocean, but the young man chose to do a few rounds between the fresh fruit, drinks, desserts and other treats. His head was held high and he appeared to be gazing outward to something.
His host was curious, so he stopped the teenager.
“Why are you walking around? What’s on your mind?”
The young man paused, took a breath and said to his elder: “ I always thought I’d never see anything like this. I thought my life would always be in that small town, that I would never leave Texas. But I know differently now.”
He had been given permission to dream.
*********************
This story comes from my friends, Natalie and Mike Huscheck, at the local coffee shop, Well-Grounded Coffee. On the surface, Well-Grounded, or as many of us regulars call it, WGC is your typical neighborhood local coffee shop. Friendly baristas serving fresh cups of Joe amongst reclaimed furniture and on donated dishes and cups. When you take a moment you soon learn that this is a place with a mission, a new home for those coming from challenged lives, here to be given, and accept, another opportunity.
You may have read about WGC elsewhere in this space. They have become more than the local hangout, they have become more like an extended family. In large part due to their mission.
Well-Grounded Coffee (WGC) is a coffee shop with a cause. A 501c3, WGC is part of The Dignity Project, an organization that hires, trains and journeys with young women emerging from prison, addiction, abuse and other trauma.
Now back to our story from above. The young man is the son of one of the baristas. He, his brother and mom were treated to this vacation by Natalie and Mike because his mom earned it.
“When we started WGC, we made a promise that when a barista has been with us for two years, they are rewarded with a “dream vacation” from Michael and me,” Natalie told me. “This is a really big deal.”
Often two years of stability (out of prison, drug free, same job) is the most the baristas have experienced in their lives, Natalie explained.
“We are so thrilled to award these ‘perspective shifting’ trips, she said. “ We’ve now done it three times.”
The gift goes beyond the women themselves as shown from the story above. WGC is giving another chance, not just to these women, but to their children and families. Like Nathan walking the deck and seeing his future, another generation is seeing, through the kindness of Natalie and Mike and the work of WGC, the possibilities that can be in front of them.
They get to see daylight and have been given permission to dream.
I sometimes joke that I’m buying the place $3 at a time. It is one of the best investments I make every week. And they love and welcome Sal, too.
Congratulations, ladies.
Relentless
(*photos courtesy of Natalie Huscheck and the author)
