I’m no adrenaline junkie. I do understand however the necessity of adrenaline especially in new endeavors. Yet, after the adrenaline wears off what keeps any great deed going? That’s the question all of us at Ability 2 Work have been answering this last year.
Personally, I think I know how Lewis and Clark felt. New endeavors have an evasive quality to them. The territory is unknown and the path is charted only as it is stumbled upon and found. Adrenaline is mandatory.
Ability 2 Work opened Baker’s Treat doors in November of 2013 with hearts full of good intentions, prayers, hope– and adrenaline. Especially adrenaline. In the face of the naysayers who declared the community would never support us, who said that folks just wanted the cheapest, quality-be-damned- food they could buy and our healthy approach would never be successful–and who said the differently-abled could never accomplish anything of merit, the adrenaline did matter—at first.
By February the “it’s hard”, “it’s scary” and the “holy crap” monster had a strong hold upon us. While customer after customer raved about our gourmet savory and bakery offerings and wondered, “why aren’t you Zagat rated?” Business was slow. Most of us wondered if we would “make it.”
And the adrenaline was gone.
The winter snow on the other hand, was relentless. So was our plowing bill. We were not comforted by the retail knowledge that January and February were notoriously “slow” months.
What remained however, was what mattered the most: differently-abled young adults being supported, loved and accepted as individuals who have a right to do jobs they feel good about and are proud of.
Each differently-abled student at Baker’s Treat rose to every new challenge they faced. Unique, different, uncharted, it mattered not. Their effort, willingness and accomplishment lit a fire within all of us at Ability 2 Work that was enduring. In our hearts there was no way we’d consider ‘quitting’ them.
Fortunately, over time the adrenaline was replaced by something more sustainable and uplifting: gracious, caring, community of customers, volunteers and staff.
Because of all of you, the differently-abled THRIVE at Baker’s Treat. Thanks to your support, something that has never been done before: entrepreneurial non-profit is successfully pioneering a model for inclusion and support of the differently-abled. We are demonstrating amazing results when we focus on what someone can do—rather than the label they have been assigned.
Many folks still don’t know who we are and why we do what we do. Many folks still don’t know we are open! We are hoping you’ll help us change that in 2015. If you want to join the #eatgoodfeelgoodforgood cause you need some talking points:
How does one who is typically-abled learn to be a co-worker for someone who is differently-abled if there has been scant contact during the formative educational years? Conversely, how could someone differently-abled feel comfortable in their own community when they have been cloistered from it while being “educated”? Separation in education is the current model, which does not foster inclusion in the work force upon graduation.
Yet, inexplicitly after years of separation, differently-abled are told to “go find a place to work” with little or no training and rarely are jobs awaiting them.
Can you imagine wanting to be a contributing member of your community and your community response being, ‘no thanks?” Can you imagine the ire you’d feel at being rejected? How frustrated would you be when any behaviors that emerged out of your lack of opportunity were offered as proof you need to be separated?
Separation is justified with the audacious belief that differently-abled persons don’t have the same basic human desire to be valued and meaningfully contribute that ‘the rest of us’ do. At Baker’s Treat we witness the opposite. Every one of our students and employee’s relish the opportunity to contribute.
I was recently told by a customer, “I cringe when I am at the mall and a group of differently-abled are being guided around the mall. They don’t interact with anyone. No one else interacts with them. In fact all people do is stare. It’s like they aren’t human beings.”
Sometimes, the problem can appear very large. We are trying to change the mind-set of 40 plus years of ‘programs” both within and without of the differently-abled community. As a recent University of Massachusetts study points out, “in the last 40 years we have not moved the needle in regards to betterment, employment and housing of the population.”
Intellectually, I know what we face is daunting. But as Thoreau said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
Here’s the thing about the alchemy of grace Thoreau was speaking of:
We didn’t set out to be one of the top 20 NJ bakeries (#4 on the list!). Or one of the top 20 restaurants/food stops. Not even one of the top 25 best dishes list or the top 25 baked goods list (with 5 items on the list!). Nor did I ever think we’d be the only establishment listed on all four lists.
But we are.
Our differently-abled participate in all aspects of what is created and made at Baker’s Treat. We have all become more than the sum of our parts. More than better, more than pioneers, more than advocates, more than what we thought we could be.
And that was just 2014.
Please accept our invitation to join us for 2015. I don’t know what wonderful adventures await us, but I do hope you’ll be a part of them. And I promise: no adrenaline necessary to participate.
In gratitude,
Karen Monroy, Ph.D.
CEO, Ability2Work