MICRO LENDING-KIVA SUPPORTER

From the very first time that we dared to dream and thought of opening Stylus & Crate, we knew it was going to be a long journey, and we wanted a monthly reminder of what we were hoping to achieve. It is not just a coffee shop - it is something bigger, and what could be bigger than supporting entrepreneurs around the world who also have a dream.  We committed to doing one micro loan per month with KIVA (www.kiva.org) to allow us to pause and remember that we want to make an impact.   Our first loan was given in February 2018 and as of August 2021 we have funded 190 micro loans in 66 countries. I love our shop, and I believe that we have created a wonderful community gathering space with a focus on being something bigger. I  am most proud of our Be The Sunshine wall, where we have a map of the world that shows rays of hope and thanks that radiate out from Wheat Ridge to the world in a small way, with each spot representing a micro-loan that we hope helped someone to achieve their goal, knowing that each spot on that map inspired us to keep going and doing more.