By Vanessa Posada
Organized in the historic 1858 Mead House on Maple Avenue, Coffee for Good is a beautiful demonstration of Greenwich’s power of community, and how it is capable of turning something as common as a coffee shop into a program that aids people with disabilities in gaining work experience. Coffee for Good is an independent, nonprofit business that is much stronger than a shot of espresso, it is a mission-focused business that strives to reduce the staggering unemployment rate, currently landing at about 80%, among young adults with developmental disabilities. “The high unemployment rate for children with disabilities, and our business wanted to make a change by giving them job experience,” Stated Deb Rogan. Coffee for Good was founded in partnership with Abilis, an organization in Greenwich that supports and provides services to more than 800 people throughout Fairfield County of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The creation of Coffee for Good was rooted in a personal cause close to Deb’s heart, its executive director. Deb has a nephew who inspired her to jump start this business, and give opportunities to those who aren’t always given the chances they rightfully deserve. As Deb viewed her nephew’s struggles, he eventually became her fuel to begin this project, observing his areas of struggles and successes. Though her nephew unfortunately lives too far away to participate in this program, he is part of the reason this is all possible, and hopefully more platforms like this will be able to exist in the near future.
Coffee for Good serves as an inclusive meeting place for the Greenwich community, whether it’s to grab a quick coffee, a bite to eat, sit, relax, to catch up with a friend or even to get work done. This cafe also offers free parking, outdoor seating, and is overall a very special coffee shop that radiates kind energy and a cozy ambience. Since the opening of the coffee shop in 2021, over 25 graduates have been trained in the Coffee for Good program, and later moved into competitive employ ment. It is extremely important to the directors of the program that their employees are guided in the process of finding employment beyond the cafe.“We help all of our employees find further employment after our program, and we make sure it is in close proximity to where they live, as most of them are unable to drive, and we match them with local employment options in order to find the best fit for them,” noted Rogan. During the employees’ time at the cafe, they are trained to practice skills that give them the extra step towards being able to work in more competitive places, including aspects of cafe operations, customer service, point-sale transactions, and how to manage your responsibilities under moments of pressure.
Coffee for Good has become partners with many other businesses nearby as they have hired former employees, such as, Gregory’s Coffee, The Norwalk Maritime Aquarium, The Home Depot, Wilton High School, Sarachek Law Firm, Marcia Selden Cater ing, Honey Joe’s Coffee, YMCA Greenwich and Darien, The Milbrook Club, and more. Coffee for Good’s success would not have been possible without the collaborative effort that Greenwich has put into this small business. The Greenwich community has been of major support by simply being customers, funding the program directly, and even volunteering, which is something many students at Greenwich High School have done. We are fueled by the support of others because we need each other in order to grow and expand our horizons, which is the exact goal for Coffee for Good. The business’ dedication to inclusivity and empowerment has made a huge impact on Greenwich and has thankfully not gone unnoticed. Roughly 3 years ago in December of 2022, the cafe was honored with the first-ever community impact leader award given by the Connecticut Restaurant Association after having recognized the business’ honorable contributions to the Greenwich community.
As Coffee for Good continues to grow as a business, it serves as a symbol for how businesses can make an incredibly strong social impact on members of the community. By supplying high-quality products, and creating a kind and supportive environment, Coffee for Good not only serves as a delicious coffee shop that offers quality service to its customers, but it also supports its employees to lead fulfilling and independent lives.
