Two couples living in the Marlborough neighborhood of south Kansas City are combining their passions – helping children aging out of foster care and coffee.
Pastors Justin and Samantha “Sam” Roberts and Jordan Weaver and his wife coincidentally also a Samantha who goes by “Sam” Weaver joined forces to open their first brick-and-mortar shop, Neighbors Coffee and Hospitality. This shop is not only a community hub, serving freshly brewed coffee, but also is providing services to foster care children entering adulthood.
The Roberts, who adopted their son Zeke out of foster care, have seen first hand the many issues that face teenagers as they leave the system – homelessness, lack of employment opportunities and more.
The Weavers, who have worked in specialty coffee for more than three years, would often share with the Roberts how much they love the coffee industry community. It’s about “how much we enjoy people and enjoy serving,” Sam Weaver says.
When the Weavers moved across the street from the Roberts in 2022, they started planning a coffee shop that would combine their two passions and Neighbors Coffee + Hospitality was born.
The shop is under construction (8135 The Paseo Blvd.) and is set for a planned spring opening. The partners are renting the building and have spent a year renovating it – this month paving the future patio.
The nonprofit will roast its own beans for its coffee drinks, serve pastries from a local bakery, and sell locally made ceramic mugs.
“We plan to host a really creative space, that is pretty, warm, artistic and full of color,” says Sam Weaver. “We are looking forward to that in our little block.”
In the lead-up to the opening, the Weavers are roasting and selling Neighbors Coffee to raise start-up funds online and through pop-ups like Friday’s event at SOAP Refill Station in Waldo.
When the physical location opens, the partners will offer apprenticeships to youth aging out of the foster care system, giving them a strong business foundation. That will include helping them put together resumes and coaching them for job interviews, and passing on good business practices from customer service to shop upkeep, as well as life skills.
Participants will be paid minimum wage during the 6-month apprenticeship. Then, based on their goals and the needs of the shop, their employment there could continue, or the Neighbors Coffee partners will help them find jobs.
The Roberts are pastors of a microchurch meeting in a couple of homes in the neighborhood.
