For 17 years, Cafe Berlin has acted as a central hub for hearty breakfast, live music and community activism. On Sept. 13, Cafe Berlin hosted a fundraiser in collaboration with the Missouri Abortion Fund, a non-profit organization that provides funding for Missouri residents who cannot afford an abortion. Zawata, a musician duo, opened the event and Ruby Lane, a local jam band, followed. From 6 p.m., attendees enjoyed Cafe Berlin’s nighttime menu, live music and craft vendors. 

Cafe Berlin Marketing Director Adrienne Luther Johnson has worked at the cafe for the past four years. 

“We’re really excited to be able to facilitate an event that is community-involved, music-driven and has local food options; that’s definitely a highlight for us,” Luther Johnson said. “I think we’re also just really excited for people to have an opportunity to learn more about the Missouri Abortion Fund.”

Those dining were able to order new additions off of the nighttime menu, which includes kimchi grilled cheese and tempeh reubens. Customers were also able to order newly available beverages from the cocktail menu. 

While some dined on the patio, local musicians took the stage inside the venue. 

Ruby Lane Guitarist Forrest Wilson and his fellow band members are no strangers to the live music stage at Cafe Berlin. The band performed at the cafe last June during a fundraiser to support the Midwest Access Coalition and the Missouri Abortion Fund.

“The day Roe v. Wade was overturned was the day before we played the show here. We just kind of switched to a fundraiser instead of a show,” Wilson said. 

As Ruby Lane prepared to return over a year later, band members made an effort to use their platform to publicize the event on social media. The band posted promotional visuals on their Instagram and Facebook accounts (@rubylanestinks) prior to the event.

“If you have a platform that you can try to influence people from, why would you not try to influence people in a way that helps people other than yourselves?” Wilson said. “We’re always going to try and be a part of the right side of things.”

The band’s intentions remained the same as they hoped to further benefit the organization at this year’s event. 

“We can also hopefully raise enough money to help at least one or two people with the services they need,” Wilson said. “That’s kind of the whole goal of the fund, the whole goal of most of the people we fundraise for.”

While a variety of music played in the background, attendees were able to shop and support local craft vendors including Ayla Pratte, owner of Amplified Productions.  Pratte’s shop sold a variety of handmade jewelry including vibrant earrings.

Throughout the evening, event-goers were able to stop by a table where they were able to browse Missouri Abortion Fund merchandise, speak with representatives and donate to the fund.

Jess Lambrecht and Robin Frisella, executive director and community engagement coordinator at the Missouri Abortion Fund, represented the organization during the event. They both expressed their eagerness to collaborate with Cafe Berlin. 

“We know that this location and this business has a great reputation in the Mid-Missouri [and] Columbia community, and [we] just wanted to be able to support and collaborate with them,” Lambrecht said. 

At the cafe, Lambrecht and Frisella were able to converse with and educate members from the community. As a Columbia hotspot, Cafe Berlin has made an effort to connect with locals while fostering progressive conversation in a comfortable atmosphere. 

“I think there is a lot to be said about safe spaces, and Cafe Berlin really strives to be that,” Luther Johnson said. “I think finding action steps and how we can work together while also keeping things lighter with music, the great gatherer…I think just facilitating that space is really critical right now.”

Kim Dill was just one of a handful of local Columbians who attended the event. 

“We thought it would be nice to come here and support choice and abortion rights and fund that however we are able to,” Dill said. “I think also as citizens of this world we have to take steps in our own lives that can have positive impacts on other people. Whether that’s contributing to a fund, recycling or putting solar panels on your roof, the things that we do in our daily lives can have an impact.”

Edited by Alex Goldstein | agoldstein@themaneater.com

Copy edited by Grace Knight and Natalie Kientzy