S T A R T U P
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 enhance the social , spiritual , artistic and social fabric of downtown Tampa . And they do that through a variety of initiatives . First , the coffee shop , where they hire folks transitioning out of social service programs and need that first shot at a solid full time job . They pay them a living wage and empower them with job skills , healthcare and most importantly , integrity .
But do not be misled , the café has a mission and a purpose , but the food is delicious ! In the creation of the café they pulled in Erin Guggino , former Oxford Exchange chef , and a team of amazingly talented people to develop a concept and menu that rivals any breakfast in town . The ingredients are fresh and made to order and include items like eggs , goat cheese , tomatoes and spinach on fresh ciabatta .
The café is a special part of the Portico ’ s mission but the community outreach is the heart . They engage people in “ contemplative practices ” that include meditation , advocacy to give a voice to important societal issues , and homeless initiatives where they partner with existing not for profit or workforce housing organizations . They focus on allowing , inviting , participating , as different groups talk about important issues . They offer documentary films , porch party potlucks and one Sunday night congregation gathering . They also have meditation in the historic chapel at 12:15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays , simply a group of people gathered to sit in silence for 20 minutes .
Finally , they activate the event space by partnering with the downtown partnership on events such as Fourth Fridays , when they join the various art spaces open for free to the public . Other events include open mic nights , music series and a variety of events offered by local nonprofits or NGOs . They offer full use of their space for free to these organizations for events , meetings or gatherings , only asking for them to utilize the café catering as part of the event .
For Justin and his staff , there is more to a warm cup of coffee than the beverage within , “ We wanted to be a gift . We wanted to activate the space and to not forget the poor . And so that ' s how we focused our attention . We find different ways to utilize the space . Obviously the coffee shop , which is open for people to just come and drink a cup of coffee or to work with really high speed Internet . But also to remember the three core values : creating an important conversation , creating an impactful connection and participating in our community .”
There are a lot of wonderful coffee shops and cowork spaces in Tampa , each with their own vibe and personality . But there is something irreplaceable about The Portico . The people , the mission , the energy and the generosity of spirit for our community . I encourage you to come for the coffee , the events , but most of all the people . This is an issue of The District focused on new beginnings and the Portico gives new beginnings to all who step inside her doors .
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