A few years ago, I walked into a coffee shop in desperate need of some energy, thinking it would just be from caffeine.

I

didn’t know her then, but Alyssa was behind the bar, sharing warmth and positivity as I waited for my beverage. The kindness she shared stuck with me each time and regularly enriched my day. The connection deepened and a friendship sprang up between us. As our conversations continued and our understanding grew, we found our shared values. We believe that doing better than the status quo is possible and that we should strive to do so. That with intention and mindfulness, everyday action can have a positive impact. That support and acceptance facilitate joy, understanding, and healing. That inclusivity and respect are non-negotiable. That love for yourself and one another is vital.

We believe that doing better than the status quo is possible and that we should strive to do so. That with intention and mindfulness, everyday action can have a positive impact.

Undergrowth Coffee sprouted and took root in this friendship, but the seeds were sown throughout our lives when we were othered and when we witnessed injustice. We saw others look away from uncomfortable truths and hold on to convenient narratives. We saw humanity denied and erased. We learned that the world is arranged to benefit the elite few as the rest of us bear the continuing, worsening cost. As a queer person, it feels imperative to take action against the hate and injustice that others propagate, consciously and unconsciously. I can and I must make use of my voice, my privilege, and my resources to aid and uplift the marginalized and silenced among us. When I speak up for environmental justice, I speak up for racial justice.

Alyssa and I were still planning our first steps towards opening as the COVID-19 pandemic escalated and threw the whole world into uncertainty. Painful truths about our society were laid bare and pushed into conversations both business and personal, public and private. Like so many others, Alyssa and I were fearful that since the present was so tumultuous, our future might be impossible. We doubled down on our commitment to do right by others, starting with our own team. Paying a living wage feels like the most direct way to let another human being know that their contributions to a group effort are valued. I cannot reasonably expect an employee to provide attentive, caring customer service if I am not at least respecting their humanity and needs.

Paying a living wage feels like the most direct way to let another human being know that their contributions to a group effort are valued. 

While a coffee shop is a local establishment, the coffee industry is full of global supply chains that the average customer does not have time or energy to consider. Though many of us want to make responsible purchases in everyday life, it is not made easy for us. It is our task, as environmentally-minded business owners, to help our customers by providing ethical options. At Undergrowth, this initiative shows up in different ways. It is part of our mission to purchase beans from sources that care for the environment and the producers. Beyond the coffee itself, we also consider how it is served. Customers receive cups, lids, utensils, and straws made from bioplastics that are compostable; when coupled with customer education, this diverts waste from going into a landfill. We hope that we can demonstrate to other business owners that they can succeed with sustainable products. By offering these products and educating our customers about the impact of their consumption, we can consciously move away from wasteful convenience towards a sustainable future.

As a new operation, the future stretches out long before us. Big, existential questions seem to ask themselves and definitive answers seem elusive. How do we stay accountable to our mission and message? How will we translate our intentions into actions? Will we create the impact we want to see? The truth is that answers will not come only from ourselves. We must stay attentive and present by listening to our team, our customers, and the community at large, which is why we have partnered with Relative Humanity, to join a community of businesses in conversation about inclusivity and justice. We must be aware of our goals, our abilities, our limitations, and our boundaries. Acting with love is not easy, but it is its own reward. Treating another human with respect is to treat yourself with respect. We are all connected, we are all on this planet together. We are all we have. None of us is free until we are all free.