A Cup on the Hill
coffee with a purpose 

OUR STORY

The past...                                                           The present...

A Cup on the Hill has been a dream in the mind of our founder, Jamina Bone since 2009 until now.  As an educator frustrated with the inability to successfully transition her teenage students into employment, she sought after a solution.  This solution used tools and ideas already used in schools across the country.  The "Transition House" (teaching daily living, and employable skills) and the "School Cafe" (employing students to serve the school) have exponential benefits for youth in or about to transition to life after high school.  Unfortunately, many urban schools and communities are unable to support this idea for several reasons;

• High student/teacher ratios

• Low budgets

• Students being pulled away from needed curriculum 

Some school programs take students to businesses to "try" employment.  Although not all schools can provide transportation and rarely will students get paid or gain employment after graduation.  While unemployment rates in Kansas and Missouri are at new lows and below the nation's average of 5.6%, the city is double that rate and it's youth are more than 3x that rate.

In 2009 A Cup on the Hill was formed with the mission to give Kansas City residents the opportunity to inspire change within their community and empower disadvantaged youth to be productive members of society.  Since then, CUP catered several events and sold coffee at the local KCK green market.

In the fall of 2014, Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC), a Community Development Corporation, entered into a partnership with CUP  to establish the café in order to bring high quality coffee to the community and a program educating it’s youth.

We are currently working tirelessly to bring KCK the following:

• quality craft beverages

• fresh locally roasted beans

• friendly service

• a clean, safe, and comfortable environment

• a place to be productive

• a meeting place for community groups 

• a space that inspires positive change 

• opportunities to bring neighbors together

By MARCH, we hope to be open and pouring you a fresh hot cup of beautifully poured coffee.  Our hours will be 7am to 2pm.  Although our hours reflect the area's business hours, we hope to extend our hours and menu as our demand grows.