2 minute read
GENLUX SUMMER 2024
from GENLUX SUMMER 2024
by GENLUX
After attending a talk on human trafficking awareness, Simone Ispahani felt a spark of passion ignite within her. “I realized this wasn’t just a distant issue; it was happening around us,” she recalls. This revelation sent her on a journey to India, where she collaborated with an organization dedicated to helping women break free from the chains of the sex trade. The experience was harrowing and transformative, cementing her commitment to being a part of the solution.
Back in her Hawaiian homeland, the seeds of Social Brew , her socially conscious coffee venture, began to sprout. Inspired by heartfelt conversations with her supportive and successful businessman father, Simone envisioned a company that was more than just a caffeine fix. “Coffee is a universal connector,” she muses. “I wanted to create a space where people could come together, share stories, and support a greater cause.”
The path to her dream was strewn with personal challenges. Diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, PCOS , a connective tissue disorder, and chronic pain, Simone’s resilience was tested daily. Yet, these trials only served to add to her empathy for others.
“It’s about transforming pain into purpose,” she says, her voice reflecting her unwavering resolve.
With its ethically-sourced Hawaiian coffee and delectable pancake mixes, Social Brew (socialbrew.us) quickly gained traction online and in select hotels with 50% of all profits helping to aid in the fight against human trafficking. But Simone’s vision extends far beyond this. In the next five years, she aspires to open brickand-mortar coffee shops, envisioned as sanctuaries for survivors of human trafficking. “I want these spaces to be more than just about coffee,” she explains. “They should be havens for healing and empowerment.”
