PCF Sponsors Internships for Former Foster Youth

Last fall, Pasadena Community Foundation was presented with a unique opportunity to expand its support for Transitional Age Youth (TAY). Coffee with a Cause, a Pasadena-based nonprofit social enterprise that assists TAY, requested funding to enroll three young adults in its paid internship program that helps youth secure stable, long-term employment. Recognizing the impact of this program, PCF was happy to sponsor three interns.

Rosebud Coffee, a bustling café in east Pasadena, serves as home for Coffee with a Cause and employees several participating interns each year. Dan Davidson, Coffee with a Cause’s Executive Director, has a long history of working with TAY and knows that one of the biggest gaps in services for TAY is job training and gainful employment opportunities. PCF first supported Coffee with a Cause in the fall of 2022, when a Capital Grant helped the organization purchase much-needed equipment to help expand the training program and serve additional youth. Watch a video about the 2022 grant.

A Coffee with a Cause intern stands at left, ready to serve a customer at Rosebud Coffee.

Learning Soft and Hard Skills for Future Employment

The internship first provides a two-week training period in “soft skills” like customer service, hospitality, communication, teamwork, and professionalism. Once that phase is completed, interns participate in 3-6 months of paid, hands-on job training (“hard skills) at a partner Pasadena business.

The three interns that PCF has sponsored have completed their phase 1 training and have moved into paid employment. They are:

• Jillian, who is a single mom studying psychology at Pasadena City College. She loves coffee and is eager to learn barista skills by interning at Rosebud Coffee.
• Matthew, who is taking part in firefighter training at Rio Hondo College and enjoying his first work experience through the internship. He is interning at Revival Boutique & Thrift.
• Angelina, who is in a Pasadena housing program for college students while attending Citrus College. She is interning at Revival Boutique & Thrift.

The supportive scaffolding provided by Coffee with a Cause’s staff is vital to the internship program. Staff check in regularly with all interns and are always available to navigate any questions or concerns. Furthermore, each intern gets paired with a volunteer mentor for a full calendar year to receive guidance in job searching, job retention, and life skills. “This active support system creates a safe space for the youth to make mistakes, fail, and grow in the experience,” says Davidson.

Visit Coffee with a Cause’s website to learn more about the organization.