We were lucky to catch up with Molly Lange recently and have shared our conversation below.

Molly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission of Arise Baking Co. is to create artisanal baked goods while empowering young people with barriers to employment to thrive through meaningful employment and training.

I founded Arise Baking Co. in 2022 after 15 years of working with youth. It was a long-awaited dream found at the intersection of a love of baking, a passion for youth development and the desire to bring dignity to others through meaningful work. I have seen first hand how a supportive work environment can bring out the talents, gifts and passions of young people, especially those who face barriers to traditional pathways to employment. These barriers can include a history of homelessness, parenting at a young age, mental health challenges, experience in the child welfare system and involvement. When people are shown dignity and given a change to contribute to the world, possibilities open up.

Molly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Baking has always been a hobby of mine, beginning in childhood at home. I believe there is power in creating something beautiful (and delicious) by hand and from scratch. Starting with raw goods and ending with a masterpiece–whether that is baking or sculpting or any other creative endeavor–brings a sense of accomplishment, pride and fulfillment. It is therapeutic and it brings joy to others. This why I have always come back to baking throughout the years and why I’ve chosen to pursue it as a way of empowering others.

I started working with young people in college in 2008 and have continued to do so since. Young people, particularly those who live with challenging circumstances, hold an immense amount of resilience and potential. It has always been an honor for me to walk alongside young people as they discover who they are, where they belong and how they can impact the world. Young people are brave, honest and seemingly limitless.

My business was born out of the intersection of these two passions. Through Arise, I hope to bring young people into the power of creating as well as giving them practical job skills to realize their dreams. Every person deserves an opportunity to provide for themselves, impact their community and pursue those things that bring them life.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I started Arise Baking Co. in my kitchen in mid-2022. At the time I was working another job and doing what I could to establish and grow the business. I was also pregnant with my first child so it was a busy year, to say the least. I was able to maintain slow but steady growth for the next 2 years, establishing a presence and discerning how I wanted the business to be run. I had 2 young women work with me during that time. Two years later in summer 2024, I was let go from my job and was left with a decision on how to move forward. With the support of my family and friends, I was able to step into the business full-time despite the risks personally and for the business. It was a decision that needed to happen and I’m grateful I was pushed into it. Since then, I’ve had immensely more time to invest in its growth and development. We are making big strides next year for Arise Baking Co. to fully step into its mission.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Arise Baking Co. started in my small home kitchen baking under the cottage kitchen laws. It wasn’t long until the lack of space was overwhelming and we needed a new kitchen space. Not quite ready for a commissary kitchen, options were limited. In speaking with a colleague, I was connected with a free commercial kitchen space in downtown Denver. It was a great space and worked so well for several months. It was in the basement of a large church but had limited storage space and I had to transfer many of my stuff from home to the kitchen each time. There was a lot of carrying bags up and down stairs! After about a year of using this space, I decided I needed something more permanent and long-term. I found a commissary in my neighborhood that offered space by the hour in a private kitchen. Even though it came with a significant price increase, it was the next right thing for Arise Baking Co. to grow and expand. This space has not been without challenges that I am still navigating but all in all it has been the perfect fit.

Each step of the way, there has been an immense level of faith involved that I’d be able to find the next right space to operate the business out of. It has been frustrating at times and a lot of work but there has always been a place to move when needed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arisebakingco.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/arisebakingco
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/arisebakingco
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/arise-baking-denver

Image Credits

Molly Lange