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Board hears proposal for on-campus coffee shop to provide employment training for students of all abilities
Summary
Representatives of Not Your Average Joe briefed the Yukon board on a planned partnership to open a shop on the second floor of Yukon High School that would employ students with and without disabilities and provide training; the board was told a formal vote on the partnership will come later in the meeting agenda.
YUKON, Okla. — A nonprofit that operates inclusive cafes described a planned partnership with Yukon High School on Tuesday to open a coffee shop where students with and without disabilities would work side-by-side.
Tim, a representative of Not Your Average Joe, told the board the nonprofit’s model mixes customer-facing employment, social engagement and continuing education. "Not Your Average Joe's tagline is we're an organization that dispenses caffeine and hope," Tim said. He told the board Not Your Average Joe employs people "of all abilities" and that about half of the chain’s employees have intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities.
District staff said the proposed location is a concession stand space on the second floor of the high school. Tim said the nonprofit will provide an internal special-education team to support student employees and will coordinate internships and training with school staff. "We are a nonprofit that works to do social engagement, continuing education, and meaningful customer facing employment for those of all abilities," Tim said.
Keith (district administrator), who introduced the item, said the partnership grew from outreach he initiated earlier in the year and that the board would vote on the partnership later in Tuesday’s agenda. Board members asked about physical placement and hours; Tim said the initial plan is to operate roughly from before school through just after lunch, and that program details remained subject to logistics.
An employee, Isaac, spoke about his personal experience working at a Not Your Average Joe location and described hands-on responsibilities including running a cash register and preparing food while also receiving support during busy periods.
No formal vote on the partnership occurred during Tim’s presentation; district staff told the board the partnership would appear later on the meeting agenda for a formal action.
