A few years ago I stopped by my local coffee shop in Medina, Ohio to purchase my favorite drink, but when I arrived I realized my local coffee shop is much more than just a place that sells coffee. Creative Living Coffee is a non-profit that hires abled people to roast, package, and distribute their coffee while also managing the café. Creative Living Coffee gives abled people the opportunity to acquire work in the coffee business while learning how to work a job. The people are what makes the coffee so special and their awesome customer service that leaves you with a smile is what makes the customers come back. 78% of their workforce consists of abled people and with each coffee purchased, customers have the opportunity to help employ individuals with disabilities. Creative Living Coffee’s goal is to “provide them with an outlet that allows them to live a normal and fulfilling life while pushing them to be the best they can be.” Their redemptive entrepreneurship approach has been a great opportunity for abled people all over Medina to gain experience at a normal job while also having fun doing it. Creative Living Coffee is more than just a business, their unique mission is what makes it redemptive, and after leaving the café I was able to truly see the impact that the job is leaving on its employees, but also the impact they left on me. I left the café uplifted and encouraged to come back to not only buy more coffee, but to help support its employees and their mission.
For-profit businesses that provide skills training and resources to people with special needs are absolutely amazing. They are fulfilling not just the physical need of their customers by delivering incredible products and coffee, but they also serve the needs of those they decide to hire and train. I serve this demographic at my summer camp and know many people who have become integrated into these wonderful programs.
This is a really great initiative, and it’s really cool that it was something you could discover in a place you frequent often! I think it’s neat that it is such a normal, everyday part of the business; normalizing people with special needs in a variety spaces and roles is so important. This is a very simple and straightforward redemptive initiative, but it is obviously very effective and serves both people with disabilities and people without.
This is such an incredible and crwative idea for a business! I think it is really awesome that they show their care for their employees and give them opportunities to work in a setting that they otherwise wouldn’t get to! I am sure it is not the easiest for them to be so intentional about finding and hiring these workers, but that just shows how much they truly care for their employees! This is a great example of making hope for the seemingly hopeless job opportunities!
omg!! This is so sweet and nice! I love this post, it warmed my heart. I love that this coffee business gives them an opportunity to work! This is so cool how this place is in your hometown Erin! This is super uplifting, I wish they did more of this stuff where I’m from.
It is always so inspiring to see companies create opportunities for those who usually may not get them! I want to see more companies doing this! Customer service that is based on first serving each other fosters amazing service for customers!