New Boiler Room leadership's cup runneth over in ideas, energy for teen cafe
By Jennifer Jackson, Peninsula Daily News
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Olympic Community Action Programs was looking for people to help applicants establish eligibility and gain financial help from the Peninsula Daily News Peninsula Home Fund.
So she volunteered.
"I helped connect people with resources inside and outside of the fund," Callaizakis said.
Callaizakis was more than qualified for the job - before moving to Port Townsend, she worked at a center for at-risk youth in Denver and holds a Ph.D. in psychology.
Now she is investing her talents in the Boiler Room as the new president of the board with the goal of strengthening connections between the youth-run coffee house and the community.
Youth, adults together
"What's unique to this organization is the young people and the adults are in it together, not segregated," Callaizakis said.
Callaizakis took on the leadership role even though she first came to Port Townsend only to visit. Liking the small-town atmosphere and proximity to water and mountains, she and her partner, Steve Moore, moved to the Key City.
He got involved in the Food Coop, and is now on the board. She got involved in the Boiler Room, 711 Water St., and at a meeting last June, thought of putting her name forward during the annual election for board president.
The slate wasn't crowded - people who had the qualifications to lead the board didn't have the time to commit to it.
"I did have the time," Callaizakis said, "but I didn't have the knowledge of the community."
New Jersey-born
Callaizakis does know what's like to start over in a new place.
Born in Parlin, N.J., she grew up in Homestead, Fla., and went to college in Minnesota.
After graduating from Carlton College in 1979 with a degree in geology, she packed her car and drove to Denver to find a job.
She worked for a company that provided consulting for oil well prospectors until she was expecting her first child.
Then, wanting a part-time job, she moved into human resources, where she stayed for 18 years.
"My favorite part of human resources was employee relations, mediation and conflict resolution," Callaizakis said.
Back to school
She went on to get a master's degree in organizational management, then the doctorate in psychology.
In Denver, Callaizakis worked at Urban Peak, a drop-in center for at-risk youth that grew out of a program for homeless youth and runaways.
Drawing on her experience in human resources and the doctorate, she worked with youth to connect them with services in the system.
"It was more doing for," Callaizakis said.
"What I like about this is that young people run the coffee shop."
She took over as president of the board Tuesday - Bruce Marston, the previous president, stayed on an extra six months.
The Boiler Room also has a new manager - Port Townsend graphic artist Jason Green. Green oversees four part-time, paid interns.
Carleigh Slater, a Port Townsend high school student, trains volunteers who work the counter in four-hour shifts. Samantha Frasier is in charge of ordering and stocking.
Social services intern
The Boiler Room also has a social services intern and a program intern who schedules concerts and classes.
"We have a knitting group, a bike repair class, concerts, open mic and movie night," Callaizakis said.
"There are also health-related classes on smoking cessation and safe sex."
Together, the Boiler Room staff and board, Callaizakis said, are looking for ways to strengthen the business side of the coffee shop while remaining true to its mission - to provide a safe, healthy place where young people can feel at home.
One idea that's brewing: signature menu items, including sandwiches and espresso drinks.
The Chetzemoka, a secret blend of coffee and herbs, has already made its debut.
"We want to draw people from the community, but keep it simple and affordable," Callaizakis said.
The board's role: to be supportive and help provide resources so that young people can learn how to run the business.
Not self-sustaining
But the Boiler Room is not self-sustaining, and is not meant to be, Callaizakis said.
It gets financial support from United Good Neighbors, she said, but needs to provide do more documentation and budgeting required to apply for other grants.
And it needs more customers to keep the cash flow going.
"The Boiler Room has come a long way, but it's still not enough," Callaizakis said.
"At the end of the month, we'd like to know that we have the money to cover our expenses - not just hope."
The Boiler Room board members also plan to put more efforts into fundraising efforts, so that they can pay down the mortgage of the Water Street building.
The payments now are mostly interest, Callaizakis said.
The downtown location is ideal for the purpose the coffee shop fills, she said.
"These are our kids," Callaizakis said.
"It's important not to have an attitude of keeping them 'over there' or out of sight so the tourists won't be offended."
Donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to P.O. Box 1659, Port Townsend WA 98368.
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Port Townsend/Jefferson County reporter-columnist Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jjackson@olypen. com.
Last modified: January 01. 2008 9:00PM