Wildflyer Coffee

“Life feels more doable” -Lala, recent Wildflyer graduate

Wildflyer offers young people experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities a place to call home at a time when youth homelessness in the Twin Cities is on the rise. The facts are clear, over the past five years, the number of young people who report not having a stable home has increased by 25%.

Wildflyer’s four-month immersive Work and Life Skills Training Program provides young people like Lala and Venus the opportunity to develop the necessary skills that will enable them to find and maintain employment as a pathway out of homelessness. 

This past year has been one of huge growth for Wildflyer. In March we opened our second coffee shop location in St. Paul, doubling our program size, we relaunched our core Work and Life Skills Training Program after an intentional program redesign to better support youth, and we added several key staff positions to enhance our program and leadership capacity. Through these efforts, we have: 

• Employed 40 youth

• Provided 10,000 hours of youth employment

• Served 30,000 customers 

• Made 88,000 drinks 

• Paid $150,000 in wages to youth experiencing homelessness

We know our program is working! So far this year, 

• 90% of program participants developed new job readiness skills

• 79% of youth were involved in ongoing support after graduating, including working with their employment counselors or serving on Wildflyer’s Youth Advisory Committee

• 78% of youth remained stably employed/enrolled in education at 3-month post-graduation check-in

Wildflyer is more than just a job. During her time at Wildflyer, Lala didn’t simply grow her barista skills, she grew her confidence. She didn’t just learn to write a resume and interview for a job, she found belonging in a community of trusting peers and adults that she continues to rely on for support and celebrating her successes. Wildflyer is a place where young people like Lala are accepted for who they are.  

Join us today to DOUBLE down on ending youth homelessness. 

Help us meet our match of $25,000 and support the 50 youth we will employ this year.