As the semester progressed I realized that I wanted to use this space not only to share my love or for Coffee but also to share how much a difference the Coffee Culture is making in our country, big or small changes or contributions but they are making a difference in people’s lives. From creating jobs to helping homeless people locate jobs to better their lives, I started to see a pattern in the stories I wanted to feature and all of them involve businesses that are helping communities and making a difference.  So this one is no different and I am so happy to learn about it because if I were not constantly looking up articles in Sprudge I may have missed it.  In Washington D.C ‘The Potter House’ a historical bookstore-café which is located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood has been a sanctuary and a historic Café since the 60s, it has been there for various monumental moments and continues to do so.

“Most notably, the cafe was a crucial gathering point for the Civil Rights Movement after the assassination of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.”

“In the ‘70s and ‘80s, The Potter’s House remained a central meeting space to tackle the issues of mental health and homelessness in America. After Reagan shut down several mental health facilities in his term, the Adams Morgan neighborhood became a birthplace for social programming and non-profit operations, many of which were conceived of within these café walls.”

As I was reading this I was so enamored and in awe of this place, it has been a sanctuary and also a huge help to so many people in the Washington D.C area:

“We’ve been serving the community since the ’60s—serving people who didn’t have enough food, or couldn’t pay for it that week. Social workers know to come find some of their clients here. It’s a really beautiful thing to see and work with,” says JacksonBey.”

They have been serving food to the community that may not have the means to pay for it and to give a warm cup of coffee for someone that may not be able to afford it somewhere else.  With a smile on their face and no questions asked this Bookstore/Café is more than just a place for patrons to study and work, it is inspiring others and making us realize that one of life’s most valued pleasures is being able to help someone else, without expecting anything in return.

 

 

Article can be found in:  Community Focused, DC’s The Potter’s House is Many Things To Many People by Katrina Yentch

Community Focused, DC’s The Potter’s House Is Many Things To Many People