Bryan Tipton '16

My interests are photography, Video Editing, Music Production, Design, Reading, Surfing, Skateboarding and Social Entrepreneurship.

I’m looking forward to learning about the coffee process. The internship will allow me to better imagine the daily lives of those who produce the premium coffee that is adored around the world. I’ve always looked up to Costa Rica as global example for environmental consciousness. I’d hope that I could learn a thing or two coming from one of the most inefficient countries on Earth.  It is also an opportunity for language immersion. I’m looking forward to interviewing and meeting farmers who share our passion and believe in transparent collaboration and storytelling. I’m looking forward to using the resources I’ve been provided to tell stories with photographic accompaniment. I’m looking forward to the challenges I’ll face in this pursuit.

I want to be able to tell the stories of the farmers, sharing their personal motivations and aspirations. Gaining a deeper understanding of the economic boundaries posed by the monopolies of large corporation and how to navigate this and create a sustainable model that ensures fair pricing is something I hope to discover alongside the team.  I want to imagine how coffee farming can further become a vehicle for economic empowerment.

I hope to be able to gain a better sense of working alongside people on a more independent project. The internship is flexible as allows for me to explore what could work, forming partnerships and relationships that could be of mutual benefit.