The Life Enrichment Center’s (LEC) journey to extend educational opportunities and to create their Urban Arts Village continues with a heartfelt partnership between Morning Grind and the LEC.
Morning Grind is a local coffee shop in Milledgeville owned by Bridgette and Jared Smith. As alumni of the local colleges, the two coffee lovers returned to Milledgeville to open their shop and become involved with the community. Shortly before their official opening, Executive Director of The Life Enrichment Center Barbara Coleman knocked on their door with a proposal to get involved with the LEC’s goal of showing the world that no matter the disability or disorder that everyone is “more alike than different.”
“We were seeking a local coffee shop who might be willing to partner with us and help us create our own Coffee for a Cause blend and open a coffee truck. We had been working with GC Nonprofit Leadership class and one of the team members suggested we approach Morning Grind. So, we dropped in unannounced one afternoon as they were setting up the shop and the partnership blossomed from there,” said Coleman.
According to Bridgette Smith, the partnership was part of “God’s plan” to assist the LEC with getting closer to opening their Urban Arts Village and for Morning Grind to find a door into the community.
“It was a part of God’s plan. Once we began a plan, more and more doors began to open and we still have a journey ahead,” said Bridgette Smith. “We knew this was the right direction for Morning Grind and this partnership has been great.”
The partnership provided the LEC with a variety of opportunities that happened “simultaneously,” according to Coleman. Morning Grind connected with roasters to create a specific coffee blend for LEC’s “Coffee for a Cause.” This blend is sold by the bag or already made by Morning Grind and the LEC. All profits from this blend go to the Life Enrichment Center.
“In the fall we held an official taste testing to pick the coffee that would become our Coffee for a Cause. The highest vote was for the common ground blend that we now sell,” said Coleman. “All profits from this blend go 100 percent back to the Life Enrichment Center and our individuals so we highly encourage others to buy and taste this special blend.”
At the same time, the LEC received funding to purchase a mobile coffee truck from Med-Lake Laboratory, 100 Women Who Care of Milledgeville, Community Foundation of Central Georgia and private donors. Rather than having a Snack Shack at the village, the mobile coffee shop allows LEC to sell their coffee on the go at a variety of events.
“Our individuals wanted to go back to school so we got together with Morning Grind and Georgia College & State University’s Continuing and Professional Education program to discuss barista training for our coffee shop and the opportunities that would provide,” said Coleman. “They not only trained our individuals but us (the employees of the LEC). We have depended on this partnership for advice on equipment, the skillset, and assistance with installation. It has been a blessing for our organization and you can feel the love that has gone into everything.”
Previously, seven individuals took the Food Safety 101 course through Georgia College & State University’s Continuing and Professional Education program. To continue their certification, LEC partnered with Continuing and Professional Education and Morning Grind to host six classes for 10 individuals to learn food and equipment safety, coffee blends, how to clean equipment and take orders, and how to make a special drink of their choice. The class was taught by instructor Connie Prezioso with assistance from Bridgette Smith.
“I was just blown away by how well they did whether it be making expressos or smoothies,” said Bridgette Smith. “At their graduation all their families and friends came and they were able to serve them. They didn’t just learn about coffee, they learned about business and community.”
On May 16, the individuals officially graduated and became certified as baristas. LEC Community Partnership Coordinator Sheryl Folsom expressed how proud she is of each of the individuals’ growth and how remarkable they are when working together and with the community.
“I know they enjoyed this class and for them it was a blessing. This experience was so different and it made them feel empowered. They’ve told me stories of how they felt isolated in school and from the community so working together to learn and to serve the community makes such a difference. It has eliminated that feeling of isolation and united everyone in the room,” said Folsom.
Using the skills they learned in their barista training, LEC has officially opened its mobile coffee shop to the public. Each Friday, the truck is open at New City Church at the Mill from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. LEC employees and individuals are selling their Coffee for a Cause to the public, blended by their own hand.
“We encourage people to come and to meet our individuals and buy our coffee and smoothies. We have barista’s ready to take on Milledgeville and serve their community,” said Coleman.