Coffeeshops key in building community

Thinking about community practice in social work? Find yourself a coffeeshop. In communities all over the Midwest, a coffeeshop has been the anchor for community renewal.

Each of these is a homegrown business, owned and operated by people who care about community. The success of each goes beyond the coffeeshop itself. Each of these coffeeshops has also been a key part of community renewal.

In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Hard Times Cafe has been one of the anchors of community development for more than a decade. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Zandbroz Coffeeshop and Variety store has been a centerpiece in the revival of downtown.

In Decorah, Iowa, Magpie Coffeeshop is one of the newer businesses strengthening a remarkably lively downtown. And in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Red Rooster Coffeeshop has been part of the renewal of the city's downtown.

In Iowa City, Uptown Bill's has been a leading partner in the revitalization of a retail corner just south of downtown. The Ralston Creek Street Fair is just one example of this revival.

The success of these coffeeshops, and their role as a catalyst in strengthening communities, suggests models for other communities around Iowa and beyond. One community's coffeeshop could be a cooperative, like the Hard Times. Another could be an employment center for individuals with disabilities, like Uptown Bill's. Yet another could be a project for young people, like Magpie. Others could be organized as typical small businesses, like Red Rooster.

The original Bill's Coffeeshop (also in Iowa City) is a key link between the new coffeeshops of the last decade and those of the 1960s. It's also a link between the coffeeshop as a business enterprise and the coffeeshop as a social work setting.

Jane Addams and her friends at Hull House recognized the value of the coffeeshop. It was one of the early experiments at Hull House and became an integral part of the community.

The Hull House residents saw the coffeeshop not only as a place where people could gather and talk over coffee. They also saw it as a place where people could talk about important civic issues. And as a place where everyone's opinion had equal importance, whatever one's background.

Bill's Coffeeshop has been a continuing experiment around these same ideas. The new coffeeshops emerging in our communities are doing the same thing with amazing results.

One role of community practice in social work could be to strengthen this
coffeeshop work. And to transplant the idea into additional communities
which are also looking for renewal.

Songs inspired by coffee

OUR cup runneth over with reader contributions of coffee songs. Here are some of the contributions we have received recently:

...There's the oft-recorded "Java Jive" (from the Ink Spots to Manhattan Transfer). It's always a hit. Benny Goodman's "Breakfast Feud" is not really a coffee song, but it's almost as lively as a jolt of caffeine -- Kerry Ashmore

Coffee, Cigarettes and Tears -- The Larks Coffeetime - Carmen McRaeCoffee, Cigarettes and Memories -- Jeri Southern Coffee in the Morning (Kisses at Night) -- Boswell Sisters
Morning Coffee -- Barry Harris

...Here's a few. I'm looking forward to the complete list. I've been trying to
put together a CD of coffee songs:
Dog Coffee - Ani DiFranco
Black Coffee in Bed -- Squeeze
Afternoons and Coffeespoons -- Crash Test Dummies
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee -- Cranberries
Black Coffee (cover) -- k.d. lang
-- Ann MacMillan

Another Cup of Coffee - Brook Benton
Coffee Blues -- Lightnin' Hopkins
Cigarettes and Coffee Blues -- Lefty Frizzell
Black Coffee -- Humble Pie
The Coffee Grind - Hank Ballard and the Midnighters

...How about my new song "The Blue Hat Club."
I am a member of the Blue Hat Club
I'm a member of the Blue Hat Club

Each morning just at seven
You'll find me in my heaven
Hearing sighs, telling lies
Drinking coffee, no surprise
-- Tom Walz

Note: If you'd like to hear additional verses to this song, stop by Uptown Bill's at the corner of Gilbert and Court in Iowa City.

Forty Cups of Coffee -- Bill Haley and the Comets
Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee -- Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians
One More Cup of Coffee - Bob Dylan
Starfish and Coffee -- Prince

Finally, for a CD of obscure coffee songs, visit this website:
www.wildcritterproductions.com/coffeewithjoe.

Could there be other songs about coffee? We're betting that there are. So, if
your favorite is missing from this list, let us know. We'll publish a
supplemental listing in the future.