Working within the Lentara studio has prompted me to be much more aware of whats happening in my surroundings and the problems that are existing within my community on a daily basis.

I came across a story recently that I previously may have skimmed over, but after my experience of working with and for Lentara, and being subjected to the terrible struggles of refugees and asylum seekers in the community, it grabbed my attention immediately.

The story was of Husband and wife team, Francois and Jane Marx, who have just opened a New Fair-trade and Organic cafe in Richmond with the dream of creating a more progressive and inclusive Australia. The cafe, aptly named Long Street Coffee, has been created through a combination of the Marx’s passion for defending the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, with their love of great coffee and the Melbourne cafe culture. Long street coffee has essentially been built on the hopes of creating positive social change.

The cafe has initially employed three young refugees from Iran, Gambia and Malaysia for a six-month skilling-up period with Proud Mary barista Tom Gunn. For many of the staff, working at Long Street will be their first job in Australia, and Jane and Francois will assist their team to find future study or employment opportunities. “It’s one thing to accept that asylum seekers come here, and accept that they are refugees, but it’s a whole other thing to expect them to somehow create a life for themselves when they can’t find employment despite all their best efforts,” Jane says. “We want to uphold the Australian value of a fair go.”