Beth: How did I get myself into this?

Beth's workspace

While I was teaching in Greenwich, I often found myself stopping by a special little coffee shop called Coffee for Good. At first glance, it looked like any other cozy café, but what made it extraordinary was its mission which is training individuals with developmental disabilities for future employment and independence.

What I loved most about visiting Coffee for Good was more about the people. I had the chance to reconnect with students I hadn’t seen since their preschool days, now confidently working behind the counter, greeting customers, and building skills that would serve them for life. Seeing their growth firsthand was incredibly moving and reminded me why inclusive opportunities matter so much.

The environment was welcoming, positive, and filled with purpose. Volunteers generously donated their time, experience, and hearts to help create a space where everyone felt valued and capable. It was a community hub built on encouragement, patience, and belief in human potential.

So when I later received a call asking if I would be interested in volunteering my time to help initiate a similar coffee shop in our own community, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I jumped at the opportunity.

This project felt like a natural extension of everything I had witnessed in Greenwich. I knew how powerful a simple idea could be when paired with compassion and commitment. A coffee shop that is a training platform for inclusive employment, and a place where people of all abilities come together.

What excites me most is the chance to create something meaningful right here at home, where individuals with developmental disabilities can learn job skills, build relationships, and be seen for their talents.

Sometimes the smallest experiences like a cup of coffee, a familiar face, or a casual visit,, can lead to the biggest changes. Coffee for Good showed me what’s possible. Now, I’m grateful to be part of bringing that same spirit of inclusion and hope to our own community.

And this is only the beginning.