The Café That's Upending Capitalism

Cafe Euphoria in Troy, N.Y. operates on a cooperative model in which all employees are paid the same wage and are offered an ownership stake in the business. The company is founded on a social mission to create a safe space for trans and gender nonconforming people and promotes equity through a 3:1 sliding scale for its menu and thrift shop, with 94% of customers opting to pay the top-end price of the scale.

Even as several states banned subminimum wages for disabled workers and adopted versions of the "employment-first" legislation in the country, the Center for Human Services became an anomaly when it closed its sheltered workshop programs in Missouri where they find immense support. In the last five years, the non-profit has focused, instead, on helping adults with disabilities gain employment in traditional jobs in their own communities and earn minimal wages.

Fearing that consistent homophobic street harassment by a resource center for queer youth was detrimental to their mental health and safety, activists set up a weekly counter protest to drown out the harmful messages. The counter-protest grew from a single person to the Pride Corner on Whyte movement with several hundred social media followers. Over time, the participation of dozens of unhoused and housed queer and trans youth provided opportunities for social service outreach, including a mentorship program that paired youth with older queer and trans participants who offer friendship and emotional support.

The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce was originally formed as a safe space for LGBTQ+ business owners and professionals to network safely. The Chamber offers a combination of networking events, advocacy, and professional development opportunities designed to ensure members have access to the skills and training necessary to develop an equitable business community.

The Lavender Courtyard is an income-restricted, three-story complex designed to serve LGBTQ seniors by providing safe, inclusive and affordable housing. It has 53 units and serves seniors ages 62 and up who pay affordable rents based on income as determined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines, which caps rents at 30% of their monthly adjusted income.

Westminster Presbyterian Church in New York opens its doors to create the Pride House, a safe space for local LGBTQIA+ youth, once a week. Organizers provide snacks and games, and participation in the church is not required.

The Yenbyen Fellowship is a six-month program that provides free digital skills training to young women. The Fellowship’s goal is to support the next generation of female tech leaders by providing training in areas like coding, web development, software engineering, and digital marketing. In an area where women are scarce in the workplace, so far 19 students who participated in the fellowship have found jobs in the tech industry.

The Prisoner Correspondence Project connects LGBTQ2S+ people who are incarcerated in the United States and Canada with pen pals who are not incarcerated. The consistent communication helps combat isolation and improve mental health and rehabilitation outcomes.

The Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) works to positively impact the quality of life for medically underserved communities — particularly people of color within the LGBTQ+ community. APAIT’s primary focus is helping those with behavioral health challenges, housing insecurity, and who are at risk for HIV/AIDS, but has recently expanded its services to include helping those who are victims of sex trafficking.

Residents of Garima Greh, an organization that provides transgender people with housing and necessities in New Delhi, started a small business making potpourri from the flowers discarded by local temples. They use the funding to pay for necessary medical expenses and gender-affirming care.