Whittier Cafe and Root Adventures are traveling to Ethiopia and hope to bring a locally adopted ethiopian child to reconnect with their roots. We are looking for interested co-Sponsors to reach our goal of raising $5,500 in exchange for promotional exposure.

Wellness Travel: explore, connect, inspire, nourish, challenge, & just be.

About Root Adventures

Root Adventures partners with members of the community to create custom international trips. Travel allows us to strip away our preconceived notions and see people and communities around the world through a new, less-filtered lense. Travel should be a transformative, soul-connecting, honest exploration of your deeper self. We focus on creating adventures that allow travelers to stray from the beaten path and connect to the local culture, nature and community in an authentic, honest way.

The founder of Root Adventures, Breanne Kiefner has over 20 years in the hospitality and travel planning industry, she is an expert in ensuring authentic, transformative adventures that allow the travelers to recharge, and rebalance, and gain perspective. Take a look at testimonials from past travelers and partners here.

WHITTIER CAFE

We are Denver's only African espresso bar. All of our coffee comes from various African Nations. Coffee was discovered in Ethiopia. "The activists' coffee shop" is a nickname we proudly accept. We do believe in social justice and support related causes. We also have a justice fund. Ask if you need a break on a cup of coffee or want to contribute. We host an Ethiopian Coffee ceremony every Sunday at 2 p.m. Come and watch us roast, brew in the clay pot "jebena" and enjoy coffee the way it was intended.

The founder of Whittier Cafe, Millete Birhanemaskel and her husband, Jeff Fard hold community as their highest value. They have both built businesses centered around building a diverse community dedicated to supporting the marginalized and social justice issues.

Millete and Breanne have come together to help build our local community by traveling 8,000 miles to Ethiopia. We’ll learn about other cultures and build strength in our own city through exploration. In May 2019, we’ll connect two worlds as we explore the origin of coffee, humanity and meet Millete’s wonderful family.

Scholarship:

We are raising funds to offer a scholarship to travel with Root Adventures on our Whittier in Ethiopia trip for one person of Ethiopian descent (flights included).

Root clients:

Affluent, wellness practitioners interested in first class or luxury experiences.

In partnering with other wellness professionals, we are able to expand our reach to their clients and ensure each trip meets capacity. We are offering 7 trips in 2019 and will expand to 20 trips in 2020. We also offer travel planning for business incentive and retreat travels and private, custom trips for individuals or families.

Root destinations:

We specialize in off-the-beaten path destinations offering first-class service, food and facilities focusing on adventure destinations in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

We travel throughout the world seeking spectacular properties and destinations to ensure our travelers beat the trends and enjoy the nature and serenity to the fullest.

Why Ethiopia:

Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and Millete! The city of Axum, sitting at 7,000 ft, is a sister city to Denver. We are dedicated to celebrating the Ethiopian population here in Denver, by sharing the beauty and kindness of their motherland.

Whittier in Ethiopia
11 DAYS/10 NIGHTS, MAY 9-19, 2019

We've all heard the beautiful stories about Ethiopia from our lovely community leaders at the Whittier Cafe. Now is the time to experience the country first hand. We'll travel with Millete, brother jeff and family throughout northern Ethiopia. We'll explore the Source of the Nile, the purported site of the Ark of the Covenant, and the Rock-Hewn churches of Lalibela. We'll even have the chance to take a cooking class and participate in a traditional coffee ceremony with Millete and brother jeff's family. We will cap off our incredible adventure at the wedding of Millete’s friend in Addis! This will be an exploration like no other.

Trip details: Itinerary | Photos

Tour Leaders:

Millete Birhanemaskel and Jeff Fard are leaders in the Denver community.

As an immigrant from Ethiopia, Millete was inspired to share the beauty community of her home country, thus created the Whittier Café in Denver’s historic Whittier neighborhood. The African espresso bar has a social justice focus, is a gathering place for community activists and keeps a justice tab to provide coffee to individuals who need a break. As real estate agent, Millete believes you can fight gentrification by helping people, especially people of color, own property. She is a former journalist and after she founded of The Ethiopian Community Center in Denver, she won the Social Responsibility Award from the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce Chamber Connect. All of her ventures strive to empower people of color to connect and succeed.

A native of Northeast Denver, Jeff S. Fard, better known as brother jeff, is a multimedia journalist, historian and community organizer who lectures nationally speaking to youth, students, social organizations, and professionals about subjects including cultural identity and history, diversity, self-empowerment, community building, economic development, health disparities, and the uniting power of art. In 1994 he founded brother jeff’s Cultural Center—located in the historic Five Points District in Northeast Denver—a space committed to fostering growth, strength, and voice in the community. He is also the publisher and editor of the award-winning monthly publication, 5 POINTS NEWS.

Publicity offered by Root Adventures and Whittier Cafe:

Minimum donation of $500 includes:
- Dedicated Facebook post from Whitter Cafe
- Dedicated Facebook post from Jeff Fard
- Dedicated Facebook, Instagram and Twitter post from Root Adventures
- Paid social media boosted post on Face book and Instag ram by Root Adventures
- Professional Patagonia, Inc. employed photographer, Leslie Kehmeier capturing the retreat and your product
- Dedicated newsletter from Root Adventures (2k recipients)
- Dedicated newsletter from Jeff Fard (4k recipients)
- Tax deductible through brother jeff’s cultural center, a 501(c)(3)
- Mention on Jeff Fard’s Facebook Live weekly show (~3k viewers weekly)
- Professionally designed collateral will include your logo (printed itinerary, online itinerary, printed pre-departure information, post-trip summary)