Tea and fighting poverty do not typically go together, but My Cup of Tea is fighting against the status quo.
Started in 2012 by Cindy Moore, My Cup of Tea’s mission “is to provide [women] with the tools they need to thrive financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.”
At the time, Moore identified that “our city was winning first in many categories that we didn’t want to be first in.”
For years Memphis has been topping rankings in crime and poverty.
So, when she had an opportunity to change the rankings, she jumped at the chance by doing something unexpected: she bought a tea shop and called it My Cup of Tea.
Moore located her shop in Orange Mound because according to her, “it was the last place I thought I should be.”
In 1889, Orange Mound was the first subdivision in the nation created specifically for Black people.From the 1920s to 1960s the neighborhood housed doctors and entrepreneurs, but today there are almost 3,000 abandoned houses in Orange Mound, and the area has some of the highest crime rates in Memphis.
By choosing Orange Mound, Moore was choosing the place where she felt she could make the most difference, and for her this had to start by empowering women.
“I don’t believe that a neighborhood changes until the women are recognized,” Moore said, which is why she only hires women.
Moore has 11 full-time employees and two interns, all women and many experiencing circumstances that make finding employment hard. According to Moore, “many of the women here wouldn’t be able to hold a job elsewhere because of factors like illiteracy.”
In Memphis, one in seven adults cannot read above a sixth-grade level. Tennessee as a whole has only a 78% literacy rate. Illiteracy makes it challenging to find a stable job, as the job market becomes incredibly slim. This makes what Moore is doing unusual and important.
But My Cup of Tea goes beyond tea. Moore is also working to rebuild abandoned houses within two blocks of the My Cup of Tea house, so her employees can easily walk to work.
They also have a woodworking shop, sewing room and a wig shop in their building where women get to explore their own hobbies and interests while creating goods for sale and learning new skills.. Their products and services are sold at My Cup of Tea to anyone in need of anything from tea towels to new furniture.
Since opening My Cup of Tea Moore has noticed a major “impact on individuals,” and hopes to expand throughout the entire community.
“You can’t repair a city if you never go beyond your own neighborhood,” she said.
Products from My Cup of Tea can be found online, in store and all over Memphis. If you are interested in volunteering with My Cup of Tea,email [email protected] for more information.
