Hometown Favorite: Coffee Shop With A Safe Space

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One coffee shop in Fargo beat out three others in our latest Hometown Favorites Poll.
 
The Red Raven Espresso Parlor hosts many community events and they say one of their goals is to engage with the community.
 
“The Red Raven Espresso Parlor is the latest winner of our hometown favorite poll here on KVRR, they won the latest hometown favorite coffee shop, and I’ll tell you why.”
 
It seems like your typical coffee shop; freshly brewed drinks, a quiet atmosphere and good conversation.
What you may not notice right away is what the shop means to the community.
 
“We are a space that has been an advocate for a lot of the folks here in the community who maybe haven’t had a voice,” said Worker/Part Owner Joe Curry.
 
Curry with the Red Raven Espresso Parlor says they cater to the community as a whole.

Their space serves activists groups, religious organizations, those with low income, new Americans and most recently in the news; people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or LGBT.
 
“We create a safe space for them to come and express themselves and to listen and learn from other people,” said Curry.
 
The Red Raven Espresso Parlor posted a sign in April outlawing lawmakers who voted against an LGBT discrimination bill.
 
“It was a simple image that encapsulated a lot of frustration which then built and built and got international news and international news,” said Curry.
 
It was a tongue and cheek gesture that captured a lot of attention.
 
John Eliason regularly lunch and coffee at the Red Raven and he says he likes their originality.
 
“They can do their own thing; they can have their own menu. I usually have lunch here which is really neat,” said Eliason of Fargo.
 
It’s their coffee, food and engagement that make this space a hometown favorite.
They say they might stretch themselves a little thin, but it’s for a good reason.
 
“We might not be able to do everything to the best of our ability but we are definitely trying,” said Curry.
 
“And that’s the way they serve coffee here at the Red Raven, make sure to log onto KVRR to vote for next week’s favorite summer hangout.”