Finding confidence in employment opportunities

Iz learned about The Coffee Oasis job training program and internship through a friend at school who had previously participated in the program. They were placed in an internship at The Coffee Oasis cafe.

“I feel a lot more confident with my coworkers. The first day of my internship I was pretty nervous, the week or two again I got a lot better talking to customers and people in general.” Iz worked well with the team, memorized the menu the first week, and was quickly tamping shots and making drinks.

Iz thrived in the internship, so much so that they were even offered a part-time position during the third week of the internship to continue on as an employee. Iz loves concocting sweet drinks in the cafe–such as a strawberry, pistachio Italian soda.

The Coffee Oasis has been a place for Iz to build a community. “It gives me a boost and needed interactions with others. I used to only have two in-person classes, and now I only have one. It really helps me four days of the week talking to people outside my family.”

Iz would like to express their thanks, “without your support, programs like this couldn’t exist! It can give the opportunity for people to succeed and get to the place they want to be–especially in tough situations.”

• In 2024, 84 youth completed the job training program
• 19 youth completed a 100hr internship at The Coffee Oasis cafe locations or with a local community partnership last year.
• 31 youth who completed job training classes were employed within 6 months.

The Coffee Oasis has provided job training opportunities since it was founded in 1997. What started as internships within our cafes, has expanded into a partnership program with over 40 local businesses invested in mentoring young adults.

Youth begin the program by participating in six weeks of job training classes where they learn skills such as resume building, practicing mock interviews and potential interview questions, interacting with customers, identifying strengths and interests, and participating in a group setting. At the end of the six weeks, youth are eligible for a 100hr internship at a local business or in one of The Coffee Oasis cafes.

Young adults like Iz need time to build up confidence in a difficult job market. Your donation of $25 can give them the skills and experience to step into new opportunities.

Written Edit by: Caryn Wright // Date Written: October 20, 2025