Philadelphia Coffee Shop With a Mission: Helping Former Foster Kids Bloom as Adults
By Mike Dougherty
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Today was the grand opening of a new coffee shop in the Brewerytown neighborhood of Philadelphia.
This not-for-profit business is employing teens who are making the transition from foster kids to adulthood.
Inside The Monkey and The Elephant, at 29th Street and Girard Avenue, Naje Taylor (center of top photo) was brewing a latté for a customer.
Unusually mature for 19, he is ready to start the next phase of his life.
"I really didn't get to live my full childhood, but in reality I'm in a better position than I will ever be," he said today.
Taylor said he understands that this is just a small step and an opportunity to take control of his life.
Meanwhile, coffee shop founder Lisa Miccolis is excited to watch these kids grow.
"Not only are they getting an opportunity to get hands-on work experience in the coffee shop, but they are also getting an opportunity to develop in other areas and have this space to kind of figure it out -- what they want to do, and how they're going to get there," she said.
Mayor Nutter was on hand to cut the ribbon for this nonprofit business, and says it is places like this that drive the economy in the right direction.