Prodigy hires young adults, 18-24 years old, from northeast Denver into a paid apprenticeship in one of our two coffeehouses. Here they discover their own inherent greatness while learning to run a craft coffeehouse. The apprenticeship is a 12-18 month experience, designed by educators, of deep work and deep learning in a culture of healing. From healing in community together, these prodigies are the next generation of leaders this city wants and needs.
Prodigy provides technical and applied skills through a Transferable Workplace Skills Intensive. Youth who complete are offered a year-long paid apprenticeship in our craft coffeehouses. Apprenticeship is characterized by deep work and deep learning in a culture of healing. Apprentices receive on average 1,000 hours of professional development while earning an average of $21/hour.
Through high-caliber professional development and hands-on learning in a Prodigy social enterprise, marginalized young adults develop mindsets and skills for sustainable careers, economic mobility and, most importantly, to go forth and enrich their city.
The word ‘prodigy’ means: A young person endowed with exceptional abilities. The organization Prodigy Ventures was crafted by a team of educators on the conviction that the city’s next great contributors are already here: the young adults disengaged with inequitable institutions of school and work. Prodigy Ventures is a network of high-standards social enterprises offering apprenticeships to young adults from northeast Denver. Through craftsmanship in a culture of healing, apprentices develop mindsets and skills for professional careers, economic mobility and, most importantly, to go forth and enrich their city.
The first coffeehouse opened in 2016 in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. In 2022, Prodigy opened a second coffeehouse and learning lab in Globeville, effectively doubling its apprenticeship capacity. In 2025, after Purple Door, a longtime nonprofit partner, ended their workforce program, Prodigy acquired Purple Door Coffee’s downtown location ensuring the space continues to serve the community and young people.
Organization name
Prodigy Ventures Inc
other names
Prodigy Coffee
2015
Tax id (EIN)
47-2745285
Category
Employment, Youth Development, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Public & Societal Benefit, Food, Agriculture & Nutrition
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
3801 E 40th AveDenver, CO, US