When STIR opened its doors last fall, it became far more than a neighborhood coffee shop, it became a new model for inclusion, employment, and community connection. Inspired by her work at Grace Therapy Center, owner and licensed and board-certified behavior analyst Katie Jenkins launched STIR to fill a crucial gap: meaningful job opportunities for teens and adults living with developmental or intellectual differences.
While there are many early interventions and therapies available for younger age groups, options can become limited as they get older. STIR was created to change the narrative.
“A lot of them came in thinking that they couldn’t do things that a coffee shop entails. They would say, ‘Oh, maybe I could wipe a table, but maybe I can’t work an espresso machine or a register.’ But we have an espresso machine that is automated. A lot of the steps are precise in espresso making, but they can do it with a button. A lot of them are able to work the espresso machine and the register, and believe it or not, syrups are really hard because everyone has different preferences and you have to know all the recipes. But they’re putting all the syrups in. We’ve seen a lot of them do things that they thought they couldn’t do,” Jenkins shares.
Just as intentional as the training is the calming environment one experiences when visiting the coffee shop. Jenkins explains, “I worked with Stefania Gibbens Rooney of Gibbens Design, and she has worked with me in some of my clinics and did a lot of research on special needs and autism and the kind of space they need, but also just anyone who walks in here can feel that calm. We have a lot of plants, greens, soft pinks, and natural wood. The space is a good space to work in or meet in, even for people who just come in for coffee.”
And come in they have. The community’s response has exceeded expectations. Opening weekend brought lines out the door, with friends, family members, and supporters traveling from different parishes and states to cheer the new employees on and enjoy a cup of coffee.
However, at the heart of STIR is its motto: grounds for growth. The coffee shop serves as a safe, structured place where employees can learn the professional and social skills they need to thrive in the workforce. “I’m a behavior analyst, so we have the skills to piece together what you need to know and how you need to learn it. That’s grounds for growth. Here’s your spot to grow, and hopefully you won’t be here forever and we can launch you into another job within the community,” she explains.
The coffee shop’s nonprofit arm, Strides, is helping to create even more opportunities for those living with a difference to explore even more career paths. “With Strides, we will train the business owner and the employee, work through the hiring process, and bridge that gap in the unknown,” she says.
Looking ahead, Jenkins hopes to open additional locations, and with 35 people already on the waitlist for employment, the need is clear. Most of all, she hopes parents and caregivers find hope in what they see.
“We’ve seen a lot of parents who bring their kids in here who are crying and thanking us for this opportunity, but I hope that they see that the community does care and that we can work together to create places for them to thrive. They can do all kinds of other things, so I hope that it’s a catalyst for them to really embrace the fact that their kid can do anything, and there are no limits on that. So even if they think they can’t, like a lot of these employees came in doing, there are ways to teach and grow and get them to that spot,” she says.
To learn more, visit stircoffeebr.com.
