What is the Greatest Challenge of the New Millennium?

What do you think the greatest challenge of the new millennium is? Some might say it is oil or conflicts in the Middle East. Others might say nuclear weapons, while others might say health care.


When President Carter was asked this question in 2002, he gave a surprising response:

"At the beginning of this new millennium I was asked to discuss, here in Olso, greatest challenge that the world faces. Among all the possible choices, I decided that the most serious and universal problem is the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people on earth. Citizens of the ten wealthiest countries are now seventy-five times richer than those who live in th ten poorest ones, and the separation is increasing every year, not only between nations but also within them. The results of this disparity are root causes of most of the world's unresolved problems, including starvation, illiteracy, environmental degradation, violent conflict, and unnecessary illness that range from Guinea worm to HIV/AIDS." (emphasis added)

Does this shock you? The former president of the United States, winner of a Nobel Peace Price, said the gap between the rich and the poor is a big problem. Not poverty itself, but the fact that some of the world is poor and some of the world is rich.


I am currently reading Richard Stern's book, The Hole in Our Gospel. Sterns is the current president of the international non-profit organization, World Vision. He speaks in this book of his transformation after becoming president of this organization. He also challenges the reader to make poverty personal.


His passion is refreshing. You see World Vision ads everywhere- on TV, online, and at some concerts. I know the drill: send $30 a month of your money to help a child in poverty. In fact, at a FFH concert, my sister and I begged my parents to adopt a World Vision child. Her name is Sunitha and she is from India.


With such information overload, it is easy to become "compassion fatigue", a term used by Sterns and coined by journalist Susan Moeller. On top of becoming apathetic to these humanitarian messages, it is also easy to become jaded wondering if the money your spending is being put to effective use. 


Hearing the direct heart of Sterns passion for the poor gives me a stronger trust in an organization trying to make a global impact.


I agree with President Carter. The increasing chasm between those who have it all and those who have nothing is a challenge we cannot turn away from.


I urge to take President Carter, Richard Sterns, and Bono's challenge:

"We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies-but will we be that generation? Will we in the West realize our potential or will we sleep in the comfort of our affluence with apathy and indifference murmuring softly in of ears. Fifteen thousand people dying needlessly every day  from AIDS, TB, and malaria. Mothers, fathers, teachers, farmers, nurses, mechanices, children. This is Africa's crisis. That it's not on the nightly news, that we do not treat this as an emergency- that's our crisis.

Future generations flipping through these pages will know whether we answered the key question. The evidence will be the world around them. History will be our judge, but what's written is up to us. We can't say our generation didn't know how to do it. We can't say our generation couldn't afford to do it. And we can't say our generation didn't have a reason to do it. 

It is up to us." (Bono)

It is time to make poverty a personal priority. Let's take on the greatest challenge of the new millennium TOGETHER.

References: Sterns, Richard. The Hole in Our Gospel. Quotes from President Carter and Bono. 

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PR Challenge for Coffee

I am a Public Relations student, right now, at Missouri State. I recently did a project in my PR class about the life of Doris Fleischman, Edward Bernay's wife. Bernays is the self-proclaimed "father of PR". And although that may sound a bit self-righteous, he did make some rather major alterations to American culture through PR tactics. 


Did you know he is the reason that Americans enjoy a hearty breakfast as opposed to a pastry-heavy breakfast in Europe? Let's just say he worked for the pork and chicken industry.


Did you know he is the reason why it is culturally acceptable for women to smoke? He created an entire campaign around Easter Sunday that had attractive women smoking at the parades. He called them "freedom sticks". Because of this PR campaign, an entire generation changed their values and saw it acceptable for women to smoke.


If Bernays can do all this with PR, why can't specialty coffee professionals do the same. 


That disconnect of treating all coffee the same, like I discussed in my last post, can only be cured by baristas around the country. It is our job to change people's opinions and behaviors about coffee. Public Relations is all about promotion, brand awareness, and education. That is what the specialty coffee industry needs if anyone will be able to know the difference from a cappuccino at a gas station and a traditional cappuccino. Or to know the difference between a Starbucks machiato and a traditional machiato. 


Starbucks changed our culture once before just like Bernays. Now, it is the third wave coffee shops' job to do it once more.


It will take education, research, dedication, patience, and the willingness to listen. Snobbery about coffee is not the answer. As baristas, it is our job to make sure the customer understands what they are ordering and to serve the best product we can.


It will take intentional events, classes, and making information accessible to the average Joe. We need to make learning about coffee an easy option.


Sure, sometimes we will have to encounter people who may treat us rudely or even worse--like every other barista they have encountered. But if we treat people with respect and kindness, we can create a culture revolution just like Bernays.


One customer and one smile at a time. 

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Coffee is NOT All Created Equal

Let's Set The Stage:

You are a waitress at a local, sit down restaurant. You serve everything from steaks to chicken fingers. Your hamburgers are the best in town because you use grass feed beef from local farmers. Each patty is hand crafted by the chef with your restaurant's own secret recipe of spices.


NOW, a couple comes in. You sit them down and hand them menus. The lady orders a Gourmet Cheeseburger. She asks if she can make it a double. You reply that is no problem, but it will cost extra. When you tell her the price, she replies,

"You guys are more expensive than McDonalds. How's that?"

Immediately, you begin to explain that your hamburgers are different than McDonald's because of where you get the beef and how it is prepared by hand. Before you could finish your sentence, she retorts:

"I don't care. It all tastes the same."

Absurd right?

Well, that is the same feeling a barista at a local specialty coffee house has when someone says in disgust that you are more expensive than Starbucks. Where is the disconnect? Why do we expect more quality, expensive food from the local sit down restaurant than at a fast food restaurant, but coffee is all treated the same?

I have news for you.

Coffee is NOT all created equal,

as The Coffee Ethic's Clover sign states.

Being a barista at The Coffee Ethic is hard work, constanty trying to improve my skills and learn more about the trade. Each drink is made by hand from scratch. We do not push a button and magically a latte appears. We tamp the espresso with our own strength and pour the steamed milk with our hearts.

All of our coffee is Direct Trade, meaning all the farmer's get a fair price and we have a relationship with them. Our roaster, PT's, gives back to the community the farmer's live in. They don't just take coffee beans; they pass on knowledge and create friendships.

All of the cups at The Coffee Ethic are bio-degardable, and we try to make every effort to be responsible to the environment by recycling and saving our grounds for gardens in the community. 

This is why I hate *bucks a little bit. It has it's place in society, don't get me wrong. If you want a quick, sweet, grande, with lots of milk, cheap coffee drink, go to that place. If you want to sit down, be treated as guests, and sip on a delicious cup of coffee slowly, support a local coffee shop like The Coffee Ethic. And remember:

Coffee is NOT All Created Equal!

Kudos to Scott Bratcher for the Pic of David Soper's Latte Art at The Coffee Ethic

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A Simple Smile in Spanish

What is it about this little girl's smile that makes your heart melt? 

What power does this smile have?

Do you walk away feeling a rush of confidence or a splash of happiness?

I do.

          

 Tonight, I experienced the magic behind a child's simple smile. I volunteered at a local citizenship workshop for the Latino community of Springfield. I am a Spanish student and speak fairly well, but if I am put on the spot, I often freeze and don't know what to say. Ask me to translate or even have a conversation with me and my six years of Spanish mean nothing to me. 

However, walk into a room full of Hispanic children with smiles like Adrienne and everything changes.

Something about a child's willingness to express themselves without holding back makes me  a fluent Spanish speaker. No fear of saying the wrong thing. No fear of sounding stupid. No fear of miscommunication.

The great thing about kids too is that they are the BEST teachers. Most adults, in hopes to save face, let you make as many mistakes as you want. If you say mispronounce a word to a child, you will know it because they can't control their laughter. Kids don't get frustrated at your mistakes either. Since they are amused, your interactions can be longer. 

A nursery is a great classroom as well. All you have to do is point to a toy and say "Como se dice en español?" (How do you say?) and they will gladly tell you.  

Moral of the story?

First, if you want to learn another language, hang out with children who speak that language.

Second, maybe, we should also have the attitude of a child when approaching language and culture: LAUGH AT OUR MISTAKES. Maybe, if we worry less about what others think and express ourselves more freely like children do, we could learn any language quicker.

It all starts with a simple smile.

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The Comfort of a Coffee Snob

This weekend, I went to visit my friend in St. Louis. I haven't seen her since November, so it was a joyous occasion. I basically got to live life with her for the weekend, which was grand.


Saturday morning, she had to work at the local coffeeshop. Around 7:30, I pulled myself out of bed for some breakfast and coffee. When I arrived, my friend's work was hopping. I stepped up to order my cappecino, met with a oh so familiar question: "Would you like a traditional cappecino?" I breathed out a thankful, "yes". Anyone, who works in the specialty coffee industry can relate with my feelings of relief when met with such a reassuring question that you are indeed in a legit coffee house.

As I sat sipping on my cappe and nibbling my mocha muffin, I just watched the craziness around me. It was incredible to see people frantically searching for seats. One couple sat so close to me, it was impossible not to eaves drop a little bit. 


But more impressive than the amount of people was the amount of diversity. A young almost hippie-like couple sat to my right. My left was an elderly man reading the paper. Ahead of me was an international student studying. Next to her, were two middle-aged ladies that looked like old friends. Next to them was a mother and a daughter. The little girl could not have been more than five and had the most enchanting red curls. 


It amazes me how one coffee shop can bring so many different people together, and the commitment that all of these people exhibit to this particular coffee shop at 8 am in the morning on SATURDAY!


Because one cup is never enough, I had breakfast and coffee with my cousins at Booster's Cafe. It was the most darling cafe. A significant portion of their profit goes to Africa. Hmmm...sound familiar? Most of the waitresses were international students, and again, the customers all came from diverse backgrounds. An interracial couple sat next to me and my cousins speaking in a language I did not recognize. What a breath of fresh air!


My coffee experience was not all wonderful in St. Louis, however. While we were walking in St. Louis, my friend and I passed a coffee shop that will remain nameless. Immediately, bad memories of horrible coffee and service flooded my mind. 


In high school, I had visited that shop with a fellow barista. That experience was so horrible that I wrote a paper on how horrible it truly was.


But that shop is special to me as well, because it was at that moment in high school that I realized I had truly become a "coffee snob".







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