Rebel Blend Fund grants 2020

It's always exciting to announce the Rebel Blend Grant recipients and this year's Rebel Blend Fund announcement was especially meaningful. While the gathering felt very different due to COVID-19 precautions, we were still able to hear a little bit about each recipient's project, and enjoy the sunshine and the opportunity to learn from one another. CBD co-founder Mary Allen Lindemann said, “This year the Rebel Blend Funds are supporting three amazing projects aimed at understanding and building compassion for our community and working to change systemic racism and bias. This feels especially appropriate in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement.” Mary Allen added, “Through the arts, we believe our community can build bridges between cultures, class and color, inspiring us to find that which is fundamental to us all: our humanity.” Since the Rebel Blend Fund began, CBD has contributed over $100,000 to Maine non-profits arts organizations. This year’s recipients each received $2,000. The Rebel Blend Fund is supported through the purchase of the company’s popular Rebel Blend coffee, which combines beans from three major growing regions: Asia, Americas and Africa. $1 from each pound sold or brewed in CBD coffeehouses is contributed to the fund and the total amount from yearly sales is awarded to the winners.

2020 Rebel Blend Winners

Embodied Equity Consulting René Goddess Johnson and Jennie Hahn ‘The Round Tables: A Daily Conversation with White Supremacy Culture”A social justice and racial equity training program which uses Embodied Equity Play tools and the art of conversation to break down old patterns and establish new accountability norms. “New Neighbors” Reza Jalali and Morgan Rielly Distribution of a soon-to-be published book on New Mainers and their contribution to Maine. Libraries and schools across the State will be given copies at no charge. Dignity for Opiate Users Stephen Andrew ‘Dignity, Compassion Storytelling Conversations’ Production costs for a year-long podcast, which will create a compassionate and empathetic community with a focus on marginalized populations which include people who use opiates, people with mental illness and veterans who are homeless. Rebel Blend winners are chosen each year by a team of CBD employees from each of the coffeehouses, the roastery and management, who review all applications and determine where the grant money will be most beneficial. To be considered for Rebel Blend funding, applicants must submit art projects within the state of Maine along with a detailed description of how their projects would benefit from the grant money. This year’s Rebel Blend Fund committee included Nathan Hann, Jackie Lovell, Quesias Parra, Jamie Roper and Zoe Yanez. Androscoggin Bank proudly supports Coffee By Design’s Rebel Blend Fund by recognizing the recipients in a Mainebiz ad. Photo by Tim Greenway Pictured left to right: From Androscoggin Bank: Alicia Miller, Maureen Van Uden and Kelly Dorsey; Coffee By Design co-founders Mary Allen Lindemann and Alan Spear; Rebel Blend Fund grant recipients Reza Jalali and Morgan Rielly on behalf of their project “New Neighbors;” Rebel Blend Fund grant recipients Michelle Atwell and Stephen Andrew on behalf of podcast “Dignity, Compassion Storytelling Conversations’ Dignity for Opiate Users.” Not pictured, Rebel Blend Fund grant recipients Embodied Equity Consulting, René Goddess Johnson and Jennie Hahn