There's just an enormous need for more inclusion in the workforce, more opportunities for these
young adults to get training but also to receive wages.
[Pam] Vanessa Vila is the founder of Our Grounds in Kendall.
Much more than just a coffee shop, this nonprofit is helping young adults with autism and other
developmental disabilities gain vital life skills.
I'm an occupational therapist.
So working in the field with transitioning adults, I just realized there was a lack of
opportunity for vocational training and employment.
So I just decided to take it upon myself to just make a little bit more opportunity out
there for these young adults that are so deserving of it.
So you decided a coffee shop would be a great way to kind of give them some of those skills.
How did you get to that point?
So one of my main things when we started was I wanted to have a coffee shop that has a
great cause, but I also want people to come for the really great coffee.
So we decided on a local roaster, Argyle Coffee Roasters.
They're a specialty coffee roaster out of Fort Lauderdale, and they've been really great
to us.
They got us a super automatic machine, then they trained us how to use it.
So then I was able to train our baristas how to use the machine as well.
A lot of programs do a great job of providing internships, and then they expect them to
find other opportunities.
So my goal is if you are having fun here and if you're working here and you like it here,
then you can stay as long as you'd like.
There's no timeframe on the employment opportunity.
If they're interested in something else, then I'll definitely help them achieve that goal,
whatever their goal may be.
Do you think that businesses and business owners don't necessarily understand the abilities
of special needs and sort of afraid?
I get that question a lot.
Right.
But it might just be like an afraid or a stigma is associated to the word disability.
That's why I hardly ever use that word just because there's a lot of stigmas associated
to just the word disability in general, providing inclusion and seeing all these adults just
like you and I, because they are.
You also see someone that may have a disability here and doing a very great job, then that
might be a model, say like, "Hey, maybe I should give someone a chance "if they walk
through the door, seeking an opportunity at my place.
And I realize that there's still more need for opportunities out there because I get
people trying to apply pretty much on a weekly basis.
Unfortunately, right now, we're not there yet, but hopefully, soon.
[Pam] Vanessa currently employs five young adults with special needs, like Jenny, who's
been working at Our Grounds since they opened last summer.
Hi, welcome to Our Grounds.
She's just such a hard worker.
She gets here without being told what to do.
She starts just doing her daily tasks, always has a smile on her face.
Tell us about what you do here at Our Grounds.
I welcome to the customers, and I give them coffee.
And I like around here to give them pastries.
And what do you like about working here with Vanessa?
Tell me about her.
Vanessa is nice.
And she's a great boss, someone here.
[Vanessa] She always has a nice attitude about working.
The regulars love her.
The other staff loves her.
She's just a pleasure to work with.
[Pam] Richard Bard is one of those regulars and sees the value in having Our Grounds
in the community.
They're very friendly, and very helpful, and greet me.
And so I'm glad to see them working, learning and interacting with people.
I hope that others, you know, might see what they can do and give them an opportunity.
I enjoy the coffee.
It's not just the cause that brings me here but the coffee and the atmosphere, and it's
very pleasant.
[Vanessa] Brew kindness is our motto, but our regulars brew kindness with us all the
time. They're very nice.
[Pam] And then maybe share your message too, which is really important, right?
[Vanessa] Definitely.
That's where, how we have gotten to where we are now, word of mouth and people just
promoting us, sharing our story to a friend or a neighbor and encouraging them to come
visit us.
You are an occupational therapist by trade.
So obviously, you're able to employ a lot of that skill in working with your employees.
Talk about some of the changes you've seen in them.
I'm sure you've seen them grow in many ways.
The number one thing I would say is confidence.
So given the opportunity and then realizing, "Hey, I am actually able to do my job and
I'm doing it pretty well," definitely boosts their self esteem and confidence, which is
really great for me to see.
In the beginning, they might have been a little shyer, needing more assistance.
And now, they're willing to step out of their comfort zone and be more involved and engaged
with our customers as well, which is nice to see.
Everyone's unique, and everyone has unique abilities.
But everyone here demonstrates perseverance and hard work, always have a positive attitude,
so it's inspiring to me when I get to work with them.
The goal is to be able to provide more opportunities.
So we get customers buying coffee, and we get donations, and we're also able to provide
more opportunity like that.
So the goal is for this, Our Grounds, to be successful and continue to generate so that
we can have more people walking through the door and more team members receiving wages
and giving more people the opportunity to work here.