Kris Fulton: Sophomore's Year (Cover Story)
Kris Fulton's Baltimore Cafe is a Beacon in Charm City
Inclusivity in Coffee Advocating for Queer and Indigenous Representation Through Coffee
When Beth Brady and Téh opened Turtle Island Coffee in the summer of 2023, the Indigenous and queer-owned café became Bend, Ore.’s first established queer gathering space and a beacon of support and connection for the local Q-BIPOC community.
Decoding Unions
If you didn't know about unions before, you almost certainly got an earful on December 9, 2021. That was the day that a Starbucks in Buffalo, N.Y., voted to form the company’s first union. However, despite the long and intense history of unionization in the United States, the conversation surrounding workers’ rights—especially within the service industry—is only recently becoming significantly mainstream. Combine an arguably unprecedentedly visible labor movement with the highest public approval rating of unions in almost 60 years, and it’s clear that both understanding and reconceptualizing the way that the coffee industry views labor and workers’ rights has never been more crucial.
Green America Celebrates Black History Month
The 1st of February signifies the commencement of Black History Month, a time to honor and emphasize the importance of learning and celebrating Black history and culture. This year’s theme is “African Americans and the Arts.” While Black History Month takes place in February in honor of the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, the observation is a call to engage in a deeper understanding of Black history – one that highlights the entirety of the Black community and culture and subsequent infinite contributions to the world beyond the simplified study of only a few vastly known heroes.
The Pros and Cons of Calling Out Names with Drink Orders
"Can I get a name for that order?" is a phrase that is on constant repeat for most baristas. For others, the action of handing a customer an order number ticket is so routine they could do it in their sleep. While the ramifications of a café’s chosen process for drink identification tend to fly under the radar, the barista community has passionate opinions on the proper way to match drink to customer, revealing the topic to be much more contentious than it would seem at first glance - and one that can cause even deeper consequences by unintentionally causing harm to customers.
Auto/Analog? Industry Perspectives on Cafe Automation
A rapidly growing wave of automation and technological advancement has been crashing its way through just about every industry—including specialty coffee. In a field where professionals are constantly juggling the preservation of art with ever-increasing demands for efficiency, the choices that must be made in the face
of continuous developments in automation are only getting more challenging.
of continuous developments in automation are only getting more challenging.
Inclusivity in Coffee Julien Langevin: Cupping and Community in the Face of Mental Illness
Julien Langevin has been immersed in “coffee nerdery” since they began dreaming about steaming milk shortly after starting their first barista job. Julien’s passion for coffee grew rapidly from there, eventually transforming them from the high school student whose morning commute to school in their hometown of Auburn, Maine, would not be complete without a stop at Tim Hortons, into the 2022 United States Cup Tasters Champion and founder of Tomato Coffee Class.
Inclusivity in Coffee LaNisa Williams: Putting the Dream into Action
LaNisa Williams, self-proclaimed "coffee plug," doesn’t see the rest of the coffee industry as competition. Instead, she approaches her time in coffee as an opportunity to usher even more people onto the scene and make sure the right resources are being “plugged into the right people.” “
Inclusivity in Coffee Suni Reid: Nourishing a Community Through Coffee
Suni Reid remembers their auntie’s house as a space where they could relax, let loose, and thrive as the most authentic version of themself. The welcoming, Black, and queer energy inspired Suni’s coffee brand, Auntie’s Coffee, and the “utopian dream world” they hope it will bring to life.
Inclusivity in Coffee Addison Mathis: Queerness and Vulnerability on the U.S. Barista Championship Stage
Addison Mathis had written and revised countless scripts leading up to the 2023 United States Barista Championship (USBC), but when they completed their final rewrite of the ending just a week before the competition, they had no idea that their words would have such an outstanding impact. Their powerful routine both represented and resonated with the queer coffee community.
JUSTICE4VIV: Student Protests Revive Calls for Firing of AOK Library Circulation Manager
Since the start of the 2021-2022 school year, flyers calling for the firing of Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery Circulation Manager Paula Langley have circulated around the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. On April 21, 2022 UMBC students organized a demonstration at the AOK Library demanding Langley’s firing. Chants of “Fire Paula Langley” and “Justice for Vivien” could be heard from the protesters.
Green America Celebrates Transgender Awareness Week
November 13 was the first day of Transgender Awareness Week, a 7-day stretch dedicated to highlighting the vast range of issues faced by members of the transgender and gender non-conforming community through education and advocacy, which culminates in the observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) on November 20.
Past and Current AOK Library Employees Reveal Negative Experiences with Supervisor
In the last two months, calls for the firing of Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery Circulation Manager Paula Langley have widely circulated across the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. This movement was sparked from the suicide of Library Technician Vivien Barrett in 2016, whose death was allegedly caused by Langley’s harassment and discriminatory behavior.
Winter Break Flooding has Lasting Impacts at UMBC
A power outage at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County beginning on December 23, 2022 led to burst pipes and structural damage in 12 buildings across campus. The damage affected both administrative and residential spaces.
Eco-friendly Home Improvement at a Discount
Get free money to pay for your eco-friendly home improvements—like water heaters and cooling systems—thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.
A number of IRA incentives are geared towards helping people with modest incomes to make sure that everyone benefits from going green.
If you were thinking of updating your home—from A/C to hot water heater to stove—now is the time to take advantage of tax credits that will save you money as you help to save the planet.
A number of IRA incentives are geared towards helping people with modest incomes to make sure that everyone benefits from going green.
If you were thinking of updating your home—from A/C to hot water heater to stove—now is the time to take advantage of tax credits that will save you money as you help to save the planet.
Sustainable Companies Building Community and a Greener Future
Meet two sustainable companies connecting with the community in their mission towards a greener future.
Green America and the certified Green Business Network members mentioned in this article, which meet or exceed Green America’s standards for social and environmental responsibility, are here to help.
Green America and the certified Green Business Network members mentioned in this article, which meet or exceed Green America’s standards for social and environmental responsibility, are here to help.
Green America Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of Hispanic and Latin Americans’ history and culture and an opportunity to recognize the important contributions made by those in the communities. This year’s theme is “Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.” Hispanic Americans are the largest racial or ethnic minority in the United States, constituting 19% of the total population.
Green America Celebrates Native American Heritage month
The start of November also signifies the beginning of Native American Heritage Month, a dedicated time to recognize, honor, and commemorate the culture, history, and impact of Indigenous people and communities across the Nation. This year’s theme is Celebrating Tribal Sovereignty and Identity.
Preparing for Household Climate Resilience
How to prepare your home for climate change's disasters.
13% of Americans reported facing economic hardship due to climate change in 2022, according to “The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances,” a recent US Department of the Treasury (DoT) report. Americans experienced these challenges during a year in which DoT calculated the cost of climate and weather disasters in the US to have totaled more than $176 billion—the third most costly year on record.
13% of Americans reported facing economic hardship due to climate change in 2022, according to “The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances,” a recent US Department of the Treasury (DoT) report. Americans experienced these challenges during a year in which DoT calculated the cost of climate and weather disasters in the US to have totaled more than $176 billion—the third most costly year on record.
8 Ways to Save Money Going Green
Check out these 8 tips to save money going green so you can protect both your wallet and the environment.
WBeing more sustainable on a budget doesn’t just mean cutting down on costs – you can actually save money going green. To help you become more environmentally friendly while you save money going green, we’ve compiled this list of strategies to get you started.
WBeing more sustainable on a budget doesn’t just mean cutting down on costs – you can actually save money going green. To help you become more environmentally friendly while you save money going green, we’ve compiled this list of strategies to get you started.
Ways to Eat Organic Food on a Budget
Use these tips and tricks to enjoy organic food on a budget.
It can be hard to eat organic food on a budget. But we have some tips on how to prioritize the foods least contaminated by pesticides, increase your access to healthy, organic food on a budget, and even build community along the way.
It can be hard to eat organic food on a budget. But we have some tips on how to prioritize the foods least contaminated by pesticides, increase your access to healthy, organic food on a budget, and even build community along the way.
Five Sustainability Buzzwords and What They Really Mean
Understanding these five sustainability buzzwords will help you see through the greenwashing curtain and make more informed decisions.
From product labels to marketing tactics, there are many commonly used sustainability buzzwords that can quickly become hard to decipher.
From product labels to marketing tactics, there are many commonly used sustainability buzzwords that can quickly become hard to decipher.
4 Sustainable Foods to Green Your Cooking
By replacing high emission ingredients with these four sustainable foods, you can promote sustainability for your kitchen and the planet.
Sustainable foods are a great way to make an impact in your daily life—in your own way. Finding your true green is all about the intentional choices you make in your unique sustainability journey. What you bring into the kitchen is no exception—in fact, it is a powerful way to lower your household’s carbon footprint.
Sustainable foods are a great way to make an impact in your daily life—in your own way. Finding your true green is all about the intentional choices you make in your unique sustainability journey. What you bring into the kitchen is no exception—in fact, it is a powerful way to lower your household’s carbon footprint.