When the Texas-based cafe chain La La Land first opened in my neighborhood right here in L.A., I assumed it was simply one other well-designed espresso store prepared to draw the Influencer crowd with it’s layered lattes and well-branded merch. Then, I found the model’s mission and have become actually intrigued.
La La Land employs and mentors younger people who find themselves growing older out of the foster system — their group of high-energy baristas behind the enormous espresso machines and stacks of iced latte shakers aren’t simply making a dwelling, they’re additionally a part of the La La Program that begins with 8 weeks of non-public mentoring.
What you may not learn about our foster system is that it ends abruptly at age 18, leaving many members to fend for themselves with out the help of a household unit.
The statistics round younger folks in that post-system stage are daunting, to say the least. (Consider it: are you aware an 18 yr previous who may thrive in complete independence?) Seeing a enterprise sort out the problem in such a sensible and sustainable methods give me an enormous thrill.
There are a couple of different food-based companies in L.A. who take the same method, from Homeboy Bakery to Heirloom LA. On-the-job coaching packages will be difficult to handle for any enterprise, however can present a slew of options for these growing older out of foster care.
Mission-driven retail retailers are not often as experiential and well-designed as La La Land and our group is pleased to see them develop with this month’s opening at The Grove (images all through!).
Francois Reihani is the founding father of La La Land Sort Cafe. With a background in hospitality and a private ardour for supporting his group, Francois and group function with a “kindness first, espresso second” mentality. We requested him a couple of questions concerning the enterprise as they hustled to open their stunning new location…
LaLaLand at The Grove, Los Angeles
there are a lot of non-profits serving the foster system. Why a espresso store?
After a yr of pouring our hearts into the non-profit, We Are One Venture, and doing our greatest to supply youth with housing, mentorship, job placement, and remedy my group and I spotted that it wasn’t working.
Our youth couldn’t get or keep sufficient jobs. That’s once I realized that I may be part of my two passions of hospitality and non-profit work and that’s how La La Land was born.
We wished to decide on an idea that allowed us to positively affect as many individuals as we may. For that cause, we selected to do espresso retailers as a result of they see so many individuals all year long, and even turn out to be a part of folks’s on a regular basis lives.
Inform us what you hope staff are geared up with after they’re finished. In fact we hope that they’re capable of be taught the common job expertise that they could have been disadvantaged of rising up. However greater than that, we hope that they be taught the significance of human connection. That all of us ought to love and perceive one another to the very best of our skills.
Every location employs foster youth and people who have aged out of the foster care system. The cafe provides an eight-week internship program with paid on-the-job and customer support coaching, mentorship, and help with job placement, housing, education, and remedy.
Are there different organizations you’d like to spotlight on this problem? We’ve partnered with the Alexandria Home, a transitional residence for ladies and kids situated right here in Los Angeles.
What’s subsequent for the model? Any further LA places deliberate? We have now eight places throughout Texas and two in L.A. We need to maintain increasing. Simply this month, we opened the second location LA locaion at The Grove.
Favourite order on the La La menu? La La Latte, our iced latte with la la froth, honey, espresso or matcha, milk.
What would you want clients to learn about their expertise with you? Our solely hope and aim when a buyer walks in is that they really feel a way of happiness and acceptance — that they’re reminded of how essential easy acts of kindness are, whether or not it’s via a praise or a ‘love you’.
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