Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shows Us That Through Inclusion and Acceptance, Everyone Will Succeed

#NiceWork! Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop in Wilmington, N.C. has some of the most special baristas, greeters, and cashiers in the business — they all have Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). Currently a CNN Heroes nominee, Bitty & Beaus shows us all that through inclusion and acceptance, everyone will succeed.

Inspired by her own life, Amy Wright, affectionately known as Ms. Amy, opened Bitty & Beau’s with her husband in 2016. The couple has four children; the two youngest, Bitty and Beau, have down syndrome. Though the original name of the shop was was Beau’s Coffee, it was later renamed Bitty & Beau’s Coffee as a birthday wish of Beau’s to have his sister’s name light up just like his.

Wright wanted to create an opportunity for those in her community to show the value and potential of individuals with IDD.  Currently, only about 30 percent of those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are employed.  “The takeaway is maybe we’ve changed one heart or one mind…maybe they’re going to go back and try to figure out a way,” Wright said (Tegan).

The coffee shop does great business. Still, the employees and their families may be their biggest fans. In their CNN Heroes interview, employee Matt explains how he’s grown from the experience. “It’s helped me a lot with my confidence…it’s helped me become a lot more sociable.” As Jessie, fellow employee explains, “We’re showing the world that we can have a job, we can rule the world, we’re just like everyone else!”

To learn more about Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities you can visit the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center. This program was established to support researchers to have a goal of advancing their understanding topics concerning IDD. The Arc is another organization that is a leading advocate for individuals with IDD and their families. They provide support and services to those in need.

Photos and Vimeo video are from Tegan Johnston. Her inspiring work showcases that “each person is a living story that helps connect and transform this beautifully diverse world.”

Kindness Served One Cup of Coffee at a Time

cup of coffee

Brewed Awakenings is serving community, one cup of coffee at a time. At this warm little coffee shop in Newark, Delaware, people are the focus. The shop is known for hosting residents from all walks of life and making all feel welcome.

As a psychologist, owner and founder J.D. Willetts knows the importance of kindness, conversation, and relationships. When he opened the coffee shop in 2015, he had a strong focus: community. Good coffee is a plus (and trust us, they do have it), but the real focus here is on the friendly space. “…I want to spread the love. I want this to be a place where people are physically, emotionally, spiritually safe,” Willetts said in an interview with Honey Grow. 

Though you will find Willets at the shop most days, he doesn’t keep a dime of the revenue at Brewed Awakenings. Instead, profit is used to help the community. Willets also tries to be free as much as possible so that he can do what he’s best at: talk. He loves to take the time to sit and chat with customers.

One true example of kindness at Brewed Awakenings is their Community Cup program. For $1.50 and a personalized sticky note, customers have the option to pay it forward and prepay for a coffee for someone in need.  And if someone comes in for a sandwich too? No problem – sticky notes can be redeemed for food too.

Love what Brewed Awakenings is doing but aren’t in Newark, DE? The spirit of community can be spread to your hometown. Ask your local coffee shop what they think about starting a community cup program, or go out and buy someone a coffee today.