Amiallana Justus
A memorable moment took place on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. as the Friendly Grounds Café Grand Opening celebrated National Latte Day with the community.
Friendly Grounds Café Grand Opening seemed to be more than a ribbon cutting ceremony, but a time for celebration of community and inclusion.
A community of all different backgrounds came together in support of unalike minds to work together. Friendly Grounds Café is an accepting environment and a real-world coffee shop where adults with disabilities receive hands-on vocational training, while learning life skills and experiences.
The mission of this cafe is to spread the message of God and to understand that everyone has a purpose in this world. Friendly Grounds Café is about offering a safe space to celebrate everyone for who they are.
The Mayor of Clermont, Tim Murry, received the first official latte, served by a Central Florida Dreamplex client, marking the beginning of a new chapter for inclusive employment in the Orlando community.
Serving Fresh Lattes to the Orlando Community
National Latte Day is celebrated every year with coffee lovers all over the world. What makes this event so unique is the inclusion of the guests and coworkers at Friendly Grounds Café.
“This cafe allows our participants at the friendship place who are daily program attendees to learn life skills and jobs skills,” said Cameron Gomes, CEO of the Central Florida Dreamplex. “It’s to help those who have disabilities welcome them into the community to show what they’re capable of, let them be included, and allow them to find employment outside of the friendship cafe at some point.”
Confidence is the key to getting any job whether you have a disability or not. Friendly Grounds says believing in yourself and the skills you have can set you apart from others and make you a stronger candidate for the position.
“Just have confidence in yourself because there are many programs in the community that can help give you the skills and confidence you need,” said Gomes. “Believe in yourself and find a group that will help support you and you can do it.”
The cafe features assistive devices that help with making lattes and counting money so employees can learn how to get the job done correctly.
“It has given our workers the tools they need such as training and adaptive equipment that can help them run the register or make the coffee themselves,” said Gomes. “Through equipment and training this is what’s helping our members to get started in their lives.”
Red Taylor, parent of two children through Central Florida Dreamplex for speech therapy and autism spectrum disorder, said that those who have autism deal with a lot of judgment from the work community and finding a steady job.
“At least for those on the autism spectrum, the employment rate is as low as 2% all the way up to 14%,” said Taylor. “Those who may have ASD of any kind, it’s very important for them to have gainful employment to teach them how to work through life and to not give up.”
Finding the right career goal can be difficult, but starting off with a cafe can make all the pressures of learning valuable skills and lessons easier.
“This isn’t rocket science here, but this is an important ministry of Central Florida Dreamplex that if people with disabilities weren’t working, they’d be sitting at home or having caretakers take care of them,” said Taylor. “I think it’s important to get out of the house, socialize, and connect with the community and see that they’re just people like you and me.”
Gabby Bougie, cashier at Friendly Grounds Café who has autism said that working at this cafe has brightened her day and gives her the experience she needs to succeed.
“This cafe has made a big difference. Being here gives me something to do and to make new friends,” said Bougie. “Since I have autism, I feel like people will judge me, but working here no one does and I’m happy.”
The Friendly Grounds Café is meant to help those with disabilities show if you work hard, your goals are never out of reach. Bougie said that this project helped her get out of her comfort zone and eventually become a bagger at Publix.
“I work at Publix as a bagger and when I tell customers about it, it makes a big difference in me being accepted at the cafe and at the grocery store for who I am and my disability,” said Bougie. “You can be who you are and not judged.”
Visit Friendly Grounds Cafe at 2400 S. Hwy. 27, Suite 4108 in Clermont. For more information, visit HERE.
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