Grounds for Change: A Newly Opened Camp Hill Coffee Shop Employs, Advocates for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Good Ground Coffee Company is a coffee shop in Camp Hill that employs survivors of human trafficking. The founders, Rachel Beatty and Rachel Ferrence, met while they were students at Messiah University, sharing a passion for advocating for survivors of human trafficking. Beatty competed in the business department’s Impact Venture Challenge, which allowed students to develop their own business models focused on benefiting others. After winning the challenge, Peace Promise, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for survivors of sexual exploitation, approached them to partner with them.

After graduating in December 2022 and May 2023, the pair worked tirelessly to open Good Ground Coffee Company in April. Ferrence acts as the general manager, while Beatty holds the position of director of economic empowerment for the coffee shop and for Peace Promise. They are passionate about using the business to raise awareness about the true nature of human trafficking and dispel myths that have arisen.

Good Ground is equipped to employ those who have suffered trauma, as all staff members receive ongoing training on becoming trauma responsive and learning about what trauma looks like. The empowerment program offers survivors freedom and autonomy over their careers, including life skills classes, job skills classes, hobby development, and fitness programs to help round out the life skills deficit they have from the trauma in their past. The program lasts one to two years, during which participants work at Good Ground. After completing the program, they can apply for a management position at the coffee shop or pursue their next career dream.

Nichole Jones, a survivor advocate, has worked with Peace Promise for almost a decade and currently serves as a survivor advocate. She describes the work environment as “a supportive family.” She believes that the girls here know that they won’t get fired just because they’re having a bad day. Five survivors work in the coffee shop as baristas, and Beatty and Ferrence’s goal is to see survivors step into management roles eventually.

The name of the shop reflects the founders’ hope that those they employ will be empowered to grow and succeed. They shared that Good Ground was named after the Parable of the Sower in the biblical book of Matthew. They want to cultivate good soil for seeds to fall on and sprout and grow so these ladies can thrive, seeing this place as a training ground.

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