This guest post is by James Wurster, CEO of New Avenue Foundation. James is applying for our Supporting Small Businesses That Hire People With Disabilities Grant Opportunity ran by my nonprofit KFM Making A Difference. You can learn more about the grant opportunity here.
I hope you can support my nonprofit like I’m trying to support our community. I also produce educational videos to celebrate neurodiversity by spotlighting individuals impacted by a diagnosis. Learn more on how you can help our cause with a small donation (just asking for $3 today, equal to your daily cup of coffee) here.
As the father of a 34-year old autistic daughter, I know what our daughter needs to have a fulfilling life. She needs opportunities to thrive in a social and work environment. This is why I helped create our nonprofit.
New Avenue Foundation is a grassroots, father-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to create more meaningful lives for people with disabilities (all disabilities), through innovative social and employment programs. We currently have 3 programs that we run that we would like to tell you about.
Our first program is Our Community Cup Coffeehouse. New Avenue Foundation and Tree of Life Presbyterian Church invite you to “a different kind of coffeehouse”, one that is for all people, including those with disabilities. We are building community through music and helping each other respect our differences. Our social venue allows you to share and enjoy the company of others while doing things that you like. Maybe play a game, chess, checkers, Magic or other card game. Please bring your favorite game to share. Eat, talk, play, sing and listen to live music each week. Call a couple of your friends and enjoy an evening together. We have been running for almost a year now, open every Friday night. We are celebrating our 8th anniversary this year.
Our second program is our 1st business called New Avenue Café at the Kelly Center for Music, Arts and Community, 4 E. Eagle Road, Havertown PA 19083. It began in July 2019 and this is our 3rd year helping to educate the community about the value of people with disabilities. We train and employ people with disabilities in a café/coffee shop environment. This is an opportunity for people with disabilities to learn skills that will help them get jobs. And it is a tremendous opportunity to actively engage the community and help the community learn about the value that all people have.
Our third program is coffee roasting in Newtown Square PA where we employ and train people with disabilities. Our 2nd business is called Our Community Cup Coffee and is located at 204 S. Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square PA 19073. This business is another venture into the world of social enterprises to help change the world. Others have done it, so why can’t we, too. Like New Avenue Café, our goals include providing the opportunity to learn skills & produce something that others will enjoy; providing jobs; providing a social atmosphere in which to make friends & feel good about oneself; and engaging the community to be part of us.
Things have changed with the pandemic. Our weekly Friday night coffeehouse continues every Friday but with certain Covid-related requirements. But we still get almost 30 people in attendance.
Our New Avenue Café has scaled back it’s operations to half day 7 days a week, but with only volunteers. Our mission to train folks and be a place for social gatherings continues. We have about 6-8 young adults with disabilities who continue to come and help out.
Our Community Cup Coffee roasting business started in July 2021. We only have one part-time employee hoping that our sales of coffee increases so we can have more paid employees.
Covid still has a tremendous impact on our café business because the number of customers has decreased significantly. But we continue because its not about the money but the opportunities we provide for those with differences.
Our kids have value and it is so very important to provide them opportunities to show what they can do. This is the goal of our two businesses. It is important for them to feel good about themselves and be a part of the community.
It really doesn’t mean that much to me to have a month set aside for NDEA. This is important 365 days every year. My family lives it. Making people aware is important but actually getting them to be a part of our community is much more important. This is why our nonprofit focuses on those individuals who are more significantly disabled and why we start small businesses to help make a difference.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, & Instagram!
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education.
Have Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
