There is something bittersweet about this time of year at The Market.
As summer begins its turn toward fall, we are preparing to say “see you soon” to several of the remarkable young people who have filled the Market with energy, warmth, laughter, and very good coffee.
Gabby, Kaitlyn, Annie, and Jadyn are all heading off to college, and we send them with enormous gratitude. Each has helped shape the spirit of this place—not simply by making drinks or working a shift, but by creating the kind of welcome and belonging we hope people experience whenever they walk through our doors.
A special word of thanks to Gabby, who stepped into the Lead Barista role this summer and helped carry The Market through a season of transition. We are deeply grateful for her leadership, steadiness, and care.
And while some familiar faces are heading off on new adventures, others are joining us.
We are delighted to welcome Amanda Moline as our new Operations Barista. Amanda brings extensive experience in food-service quality assurance, food safety, hospitality, team leadership, and customer care. More importantly, she understands that a great café is about more than what happens behind the counter—it is about creating a place people want to return to.
We are also excited to welcome Jack Kennedy as a new barista. Jack comes to us with a wonderful background in operations, community building, and youth programming. Alongside his work in The Market, we look forward to the ways Jack will help us continue strengthening The Meetinghouse as a place of connection and belonging for young people and the wider community.
And lest anyone worry: Ivy Stein—our resident barista artist extraordinaire—is staying! We are very glad that Ivy and her creativity will continue to be part of the Market team this fall.
The faces behind the counter may change with the seasons, but what we are building together remains the same.
The Market is one room in the larger house we call The Meetinghouse: a neighborhood gathering place where coffee and conversation create opportunities for connection across generations; where young people can learn, work, and lead; and where something as ordinary as sharing a table can help cultivate community.
So, when you see Amanda and Jack, please introduce yourself and welcome them. And when you see Gabby, Kaitlyn, Annie, and Jadyn before they leave, please join us in thanking them and wishing them well on everything that lies ahead.
Here’s to a new season—and to all the people who make this little corner of The Meetinghouse come alive.
With gratitude,
Debbie
The Meetinghouse
Gather • Grow • Flourish
