"Coffee is like life. There's a story from green bean to espresso shot and also a great story in all of us" says New City Cafe founder John Lee. "Like those beans, sometimes we need to go through a journey of incredible heat and pressure," but on the other side can be a beautiful (and delicious) result!

In early 2016, John began to dream of an avenue to continue teen engagement and further 441 Ministries’ teen program with formal job training. This dream began to manifest itself in the form of a specialty coffee shop, where at-risk neighborhood teens could not only obtain employment and work toward becoming certified baristas, but also gaining mentoring and life skills. New City Café became a reality on June 9, 2017. As a program of 441 Ministries Beechwood, New City Café furthers the overall ministry’s mission of bringing hope, healing, and holistic development to Beechwood. This is accomplished through providing jobs to young men and women in the community, training them holistically: mind, body, soul, and spirit, and through establishing a thriving café business that provides a great gathering space for the community. As the Executive Director of New City Café, John leads this ministry and continually pursues future opportunities for neighborhood-focused economic development and job creation in Beechwood.

Tune in to episode 10 to learn about how 441 Ministries' New City Cafe aims to revitalize the neighborhood and transform lives through social entrepreneurship and to hear John's inspiring vision of a Beechwood that is "revitalized, but not changed!"