Each year the Riverwest Co-op & Cafe teams up with a local non-profit to support our community through a holiday giving campaign. This year we are proud to announce that we are raising funds to support All Peoples Church in their work with our community’s youth and to end gun violence.

Milwaukee already seen 139 homicides in 2016, with this past August on record as the deadliest month in decades. Our community is directly affected by the violence that happens on our streets and the Riverwest Co-op is committed to supporting organizations like All Peoples Church that work to alleviate this burden. 

According to Xavier Thomas, the youth organizer at All Peoples, “We teach other ways to deal with anger other than violence. For example, when one of our youth’s father was killed, we rallied around him and lifted him up. The youth group and leaders were there to help him divert his anger from violence to a place of love. Yes, he’s angry but he handles it in a different way. Being a support system is really important making sure our youth are heard and not just spoken to. It is the most important part to stopping violence.” 

All Peoples’ many youth programs aim to create strong bonds between youth, church leaders and the greater church community, including the Kids Working to Succeed gardening program and SEEDS youth worship. Kids Working to Succeed teaches participating youth job training, leadership and money management skills. Each Sunday evening, the SEEDS worship starts with an open mic and live DJ.

The Riverwest Co-op is asking its members, friends and the larger community to drop by the Co-op throughout December to give to the campaign and support All Peoples youth work.  While you’re there, grab a cup of coffee, meet our dedicated volunteers, learn about our cooperative community and enjoy the holiday cheer!