Greater Good Column: Coffee for Good

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By Chris Franco

Three of my personal passions include preserving and re-purposing historic buildings, rooting for people to achieve their personal potential and enjoying a good cup of coffee. To varying degrees I try to include each in my life on a regular basis. Now, in a happy twist of fate, these things that I love have come together in one exciting new initiative for our community.

A few months ago I was invited to visit the gorgeous “Solomon Mead House” at the Second Congregational Church on North Maple Avenue in Greenwich. This fantastic structure was built in 1858 by a wealthy farmer and real estate developer, and is an imposing Italianate villa that sits high atop a hill – at the time it was built it had a beautiful long view of the Long Island Sound and the surrounding countryside. The Mead House has been a part of the “2CC” campus for many generations, and I have often admired its exterior beauty when I would drive by. I wondered what the house was used for and what it looked like inside.

So I was thrilled be given a tour by “2CC” parishioner Deb Rogan, who explained to me that the Mead House has been used for many years as the residence of 2CC’s Associate Pastor and as office space by various non-profit organizations in our town. Deb said that the first floor had been the home of “Act II”, a consignment shop sponsored by the Women’s Fellowship of 2CC, but that it was now going to be the site of a new upscale coffee shop for Greenwich. All of that was interesting enough, but what really stopped me in my tracks was the sheer beauty of the grand, original and intact interior spaces. I couldn’t help but think that making these spaces available for the public to experience would be a great gift to our community.

And then the story got even better. Deb explained to me that 2CC had been working with the local organization Abilis to create a self-sustaining coffee shop in the beautiful first-floor space, which would be staffed by clients of Abilis who would receive on-the-job training and learn skills needed to hold good jobs and build “able” lives. Abilis is a wonderful organization, started more than 68 years ago, and it has achieved a much-deserved reputation as a leader in providing state-of-the-art services and support for individuals with special needs and their families, from birth throughout their lives.

The new coffee shop, which will open in 2020, will be called “Coffee For Good”. CFG will be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and it has been established as a joint venture of 2CC and Abilis. Deb Rogan of 2CC will be the Executive Director, and CFG will be run and staffed by people affiliated with Abilis. CFG’s Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from 2CC and Abilis, and I was honored to be asked to serve as the “independent” director not affiliated with either organization. I have had some experience employing people with special needs, as the Greenwich Point Conservancy partners with Abilis to maintain the deck at the Sue H Baker Pavilion at Greenwich Point during the summer months. That has been a great experience, and I’m very optimistic about the CFG plan and its prospects for success.

The concept of opening a coffee shop staffed by people with special needs is one that is happening and gaining momentum though out the country, and provides a valuable service to the employees and to the community. With over 80% of people with intellectual and developmental special needs unemployed nationwide, CFG will join this initiative to create a path for people with special needs to become more valued, accepted and included in every community.

This wonderful new venture is worthy of our support. Amy Montimurro, President and CEO of Abilis said, “thanks to our supporters, we have been able to take on new initiatives, creating opportunities for individuals to live full, meaningful lives in their communities. Partnerships like Coffee For Good have an exponential effect on everything we do.”

So we will have an exciting new gathering place to look forward to in 2020, where we will be able to enjoy a hot cup of coffee in a magnificent restored historical space, and be served by wonderful people building a brighter future for themselves. What could be better?

Chris Franco is the President and co-founder of the Greenwich Point Conservancy. Chris is passionate about restoring and re-purposing historic buildings, which is the focus of his company, The Franco Group LLC. Chris and his wife Rachel reside in Old Greenwich.

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