In 2018 I purchased an art studio on a corner in a Chicago neighborhood. Since my mission in art is to connect us, I was unwilling to close off my studio to the community. I polled the neighbors and asked them what they wanted in that space, and "coffee shop" was the winning answer. Much research, training, and education took place, and nearly two years later, I opened a 230-square-foot take-out window Specialty coffee shop in front of my art studio. It transformed the neighborhood, and we thrived as we pivoted and struggled through the height of the pandemic. I transferred my creative problem-solving skills, research, and practices to this business and loved it. I loved providing a living wage, giving back to the community, modeling sustainability best practices, learning and growing, and being a part of something good and more significant than my natural body of work. Having been successful and working through hard lessons, I'm ready to bring our brand and products to a new neighborhood in Chicago.