Prodigy Apprenticeship Program + Word of Thanks

The word ‘prodigy’ means: A young person endowed with exceptional abilities. The organization ‘Prodigy’ was crafted by a team of educators on the conviction that the city’s next great contributors are already here: the young adults just beyond our periphery, those disconnected from our institutions. These are the city’s unlikely prodigies. 

We are excited to partner with 'Word of Thanks' to increase awareness about our important work! 

We believe Prodigy’s social enterprise model can be a powerful tool in building a more equitable city. We do this through apprenticeship, through building a community of belonging, and by raising up the next generation of leaders needed to create the city we want and need.  In this way, Prodigy is at once a basic needs provider, a proven model of economic mobility, a community-wealth-builder for those typically marginalized, and a powerful liberatory leadership development program.  Our first enterprise, Prodigy Coffeehouse, opened 2016 in Elyria-Swansea. Our second coffeehouse and learning lab opened in 2022 in Globeville.

Prodigy Ventures hires young adults 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.

In our nine year history Prodigy has trained over 250 young adults and hired 150 as apprentices who have earned over $2.1 million in wages and tips, money that supports basic needs for entire families. Year over year, apprentices experience deep impact: 90% have increased earning power, 93% built transferable workplace skills, 75% increased social capital, and 75% experienced healing. 

Stop by our two craft coffeehouses at 3801 E. 40th Ave or 4500 Broadway Ave. to see our important work firsthand.