Introduction
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About "Power Cafe!": Power Cafe! will be a coffee shop to be staffed and run entirely by people with physical and/or developmental disabilities. I am very excited to create a venue which will not only create real opportunities for people with disabilities, but do so in a context where they will interact in a powerful, autonomous way with the mainstream community. I see this as building bridges and forming personal connections to overcome prejudice and stereotypes.
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More about "Power Cafe!": As a secondary income stream, Power Cafe! will feature a small office/conference room which will be available to the community for rent on an hourly basis. This office will offer fresh catering from the cafe. I know several people who are already interested in utilizing this resource. Business meetings will introduce new people to the Power Cafe! concept, and create expanded opportunities for inclusion and connection.
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About me: Over the years, I have worn many hats: Software Engineer, Math teacher, and Mommy, to name a few. In the last few years, I have been volunteering with children with Down syndrome, and discovered the world of special needs. As I learned more about the obstacles they face as they reach adulthood, I realized that this is an issue I can do something about.
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Where we are now: At this point, I have organized Power Cafe LLC and opened a bank account (funded with $50,000 to start) so I can do business. I have established contact with workforce development organizations such as Triangle Inc. and Best Buddies, which train and place people with disabilities in a variety of occupations. I have identified a potential location and am in the process of doing the due diligence with the municipality. I have also spoken with several contractors regarding availability for this project in the next month. All in all, everything is lined up so that if the right location becomes available, we could open up sometime this Fall.
The Impact
I have been inspired by several similar enterprises, such as:
I believe that the Boston area would welcome this kind of social enterprise, and that it would be both a great resource for the disability community as well as an exciting addition to the Boston coffeeshop landscape.
Our motto is "Making stepping stones out of stumbling blocks." People with disabilities have a large pile of stumbling blocks, most of which is there because of society rather than the disabilities themselves. Power Cafe! is dedicated to turning those stumbling blocks into stepping stones to a brighter future.
Risks & Challenges
As wonderful as Power Cafe! promises to be, starting a new coffee shop is always a risky business. With so many players, we need to stand out. We will do so in several ways:
- Find a location which offers superb visibility and foot-traffic
- Market directly to the Boston area disability community, as well as other communities which will be receptive to the social enterprise
- Promote the office cafe in order to diversify our services
- Sell high-quality beverages and baked goods at reasonable prices
What We Need & What You Get
Once a lease is secured, the real work will begin. We will need to build
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A small kitchen, with a work area, refrigeration, sink, and ovens for baking
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One or two accessible restrooms
- An accessible office area
- Automated external doors
- Whatever other finishing is required for the particular space secured
In addition, we will need to buy
- Tables and chairs
- Kitchen appliances
- Serving pieces (plates, cups, utensils)
- Office equipment (printer, whiteboard, conference table and chairs)
- Decorative accessories
Finally, we will need a financial cushion to get us through the first year of operating expenses. We have seeded the account with initial funds, but all in all, we need at least $100K in order to start strong and have a chance in a very competitive market. We are trying to create something new in this field. This is not going to be your average coffee shop!
Check out our emPOWERing perks, and I hope to see you when we go live soon!
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you can't contribute, but that doesn't mean you can't help -- please share Power Cafe! on your favorite social media and blogs!
Thanks!
