Compass Coffee Is Proud to Host the Capital Pride Alliance Honors and Opening Party

Washington: Compass Coffee is thrilled to announce our partnership with the Capital Pride Alliance and role as Presenting Partner for this year’s Capital Pride Honors and Opening Party on June 11, both of which will be held in our brand new state-of-the art Roastery, café, and event space in Ivy City. 

“It’s hard to describe the feeling—after years of working to build this amazing space, and then through all the pain of the pandemic—to finally be able to throw the doors open for a proper welcome to the community,” said Joel Shetterly, Head of Design for Compass. “We couldn’t think of a better partner than Capital Pride for our first event–and we are so glad to have this opportunity to support the Gala by donating our space”, Joel continued. 

The festivities, which will take at our new Ivy City Roastery located at 1401 Okie Street, Northeast, will include a celebratory cocktail reception, awards ceremony, and an exclusive music video premiere of the song “COLORFUL” by the band SHAED, featuring members of D.C.’s LGBTQ+ community. There will also be a Compass Nitro Cold Brew station to help keep the party kicking. 

“At Compass, we are continually looking to expand the ways we show our support for the communities we serve,” shares Max Deem, VP of Operations. “It is an honor to partner with the Capital Pride Alliance and host this year’s Capital Pride Honors and Opening party this Pride Month.” The Capital Pride Alliance highlights and honors outstanding individuals, leaders, and activists in the area who have furthered causes important to the LGBTQ+ community. “As part of our core mission of Building Your City, we are excited about this opportunity to support and spotlight many of our city’s incredible leaders, who work persistently to promote and ensure a more intersectional community,” Deem says. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Compass Coffee for our first in-person Pride event in over a year,” said Ryan Bos, Capital Pride’s Executive Director. “We appreciate Compass Coffee’s generosity with the GivePride365 Fund and for their incredible support for this event, which recognizes and honors those individuals and organizations making a critical difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ people,” Bos added While this event is only one night, the celebration of Pride and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community extends well beyond the evening. In partnership with The Capital Pride Alliance and SHAED, Compass created a specialty, limited edition Pride Tin. 

In designing this special tin, Compass Designers Abby Margosian and Renata Watson did what we often do at Compass: look to our community and customers for inspiration. 

“We wanted to design a tin that truly embodied the celebration and vibrancy of Pride,” Margosian and Watson said. “We think our customers will not only be drawn to the new look, but to what it represents.“ The result is groovy, colorful, and fun – just like Pride in the District. 

The tin was also partly inspired by COLORFUL, a new single by SHAED, which tells a story of one's experience as a member or ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and has led to The Colorful Campaign in order to raise funds for local LGBTQ+ organizations. 100 percent of the net proceeds of our Pride Tin will go towards the GivePride365 Fund in support of LGBTQ+ organizations in our nation’s capital. 

“Between hosting this year’s Capital Pride Honors and Opening Party, and offering our limited-release Pride Tin, we are both honored and elated to celebrate Pride with our community,” Deem says. “After this difficult year for all of us, which caused last year’s Pride festivities to be altered, this celebration is especially meaningful. We’re excited to use our new space to honor and support the leaders who have advocated tirelessly for change, equality, and increased visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.”

For more information about the event and for details about purchasing tickets, see the Capital Pride Alliance’s official webpage here. To celebrate Pride and support organizations that further the LGBTQ+ community in the District, order our special edition coffee tin here.

About Compass Coffee

Compass Coffee is a Washington, DC-based Coffee Roaster. Founded in 2014 by two Marines, Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez, Compass has 12 brick and mortar locations around the Washington Metro Area, one active roasting facility in DC's historic Shaw neighborhood, and a growing regional grocery presence. In addition to the cafés, you can find Compass at many of DC's best restaurants, online, and in grocery stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Currently, Compass is building a state-of-the-art production facility in Ivy City to support its expansion through the entire Mid-Atlantic and beyond.

Compass Coffee is a Washington, DC-based Coffee Roaster. Founded in 2014 by two Marines, Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez, Compass has 12 brick and mortar locations around the Washington Metro Area, one active roasting facility in DC's historic Shaw neighborhood, and a growing regional grocery presence. In addition to the cafés, you can find Compass at many of DC's best restaurants, online, and in grocery stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Currently, Compass is building a state-of-the-art production facility in Ivy City to support its expansion through the entire Mid-Atlantic and beyond.