Words by Smiley Team
Gen-Zers Tyaseanah Wright and Shelby Smith certainly have a heart of charity.
The two came together to find a solution to growing needs in their area, homelessness and unemployment. Tyaseanah is student at Rutgers University and Shelby is a recent journalism graduate with a passion for social justice.
“Shelby and I both interested in helping the homeless," says Tyaseanah. "I had a project in my dietetics class to build a business. After talking with Shelby, and with our combined passions, we came up with the concept of Different Shades and Company."
Different Shades and Company will be a coffee shop co-op that allows those who are homeless to obtain housing and on-the-job training.
The pair are in the building stages of their business, working with other millennials and fellow Gen-Zers. They’re starting a grassroots movement and which people can donate to.
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“This concept will allow those who are homeless to have a job and provide a place to stay," she says. "The upper level of the coffee is where the housing quarters will be. Along with housing we will provide resources to help with financial literacy and other tools to help them become independent."
Tyaseanah and Shelby made sure to do their research before branching out on their new adventure to make sure they knew the audience they would serve.
“With my background in politics and social justice, I came across research that was startling with the low-income community and the homeless population and I felt compelled to do something," Shelby tells Smiley News. "It’s hard to sit back and see all that’s happening around you and not want to to something to get involved."
Not only are they providing resources with jobs and providing housing, but their approach is holistic. “We want to not only provide this community with a job and housing and put them on their way, but we want them to maintain it. We want them to care for them as people and genuinely love them and this is going to love them,” Tyaseanah says.
If you are interested in knowing more about Shelby and Tyaseanah and Different Shades and Company, visit them on Instagram. Or, you can donate to their movement to help make their business a reality.
