Doug Hewitt

The Berkeley Forum announced its fall 2022 lineup of events for this semester Sept. 7, which will feature speakers talking about current events such as reproductive rights, data privacy and infectious disease.

Coffee can be more than just a drink; for some, it opens up a field of opportunities, as discussed by former refugees in an event hosted by 1951 Coffee Company Thursday.

Buying a cup of coffee is simply a daily routine, but with the reopening of one of 1951 Coffee Company’s locations, customers can once again turn a beverage into "a life-altering opportunity,” according to 1951 Coffee co-founder and CEO Doug Hewitt.

In 2015, 1951 Coffee Company burst onto the cafe scene with its barista training program for refugees, but it is now facing tough times.

Berkeley’s 1951 Coffee Company will open a free-standing coffee kiosk in the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza in January 2019.

The event facilitated discussions relevant to the refugee community in the Bay Area, including supporting refugee resettlement and raising awareness about people and organizations aiding refugees in other countries.

1951 Coffee Company, a nonprofit organization that hires refugees to facilitate integration into the community, is opening a new location at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union on Aug. 13.

During the “Refugee Resettlement Experience” event, cafe employees simulated for the customers what life is like for recently settled refugees.

Two years ago, Ali Fayazi had never had a cup of coffee. Now, as cafe manager for 1951 Coffee Company, he has at least one cup a day.

Berkeley’s 1951 Coffee Company has been awarded the "Opportunity for All" grant by the Starbucks Foundation, allowing it to expand its barista training program for refugees to other cities in the United States.