Bennett’s Books: A Bookstore by the Community, for the Community

#NiceWork! When you enter Bennett’s Books in Deep River, CT, you’ll find nothing but cozy. Between narrow corridors and massive columns of books, you’ll meet the warm and welcoming owner, Colin Bennett. These days, it can be difficult to find independent bookstores like Bennett’s. With e-readers and large chains, it’s almost impossible for small stores to compete. Luckily, Bennett found a creative (and compassionate) solution— he involved the community. He operates the store as a CSB, a Community Supported Bookstore.

“Our…program is the only such program in Connecticut, in fact, as far as we know, it is one of only three in the entire country,” said Bennett in an interview with Zip06.com. Most of the books in the store are donated from community members, and Bennett works tirelessly to return the favor.  In fact, this entire bookstore is centered around one thing: the community. Bennett is on a mission to promote affordable literacy. Everything in the store sells for $10 or less (though most books are $5 or under). He also has a laundry list of promotions, from a free book on your birthday to encouraging the exchange of a canned good for 10% off your purchase. All donations go to Shoreline Soup Kitchen.

Bennett is involved in a number of community-focused causes. Not only does he donate much of his proceeds, he also encourages customers to donate whatever they can. He’ll encourage different items during different times of the year, from hats and gloves to boxtops. One of his Facebook posts even calls on community members to collect acorns for the town’s squirrels because of limited access to natural resources.

When you meet Bennett, you’ll realize that he is not only fascinating, he’s fascinated. He tries to read a book a week. In fact, the idea for this bookstore started back in 2000, when Bennett started selling books from the trunk of his car to finance a road trip across the country. He estimates 40% of all stock comes from his own personal collection.

Bennett is also passionate about the environment, peace, and love. His bookstore might be most well-known in Deep River for their infamous Vigils for Kindness. Every Friday from 5:00-6:00, dedicated community members gather with peace and love signs in the town center. They do it to remind everyone of the importance of kindness, compassion, and community. Brandy Richards, Killingworth resident, explains that there is something magical about the smiles you see in the cars driving by during the Vigil. Bennett has been involved in a number of environmental organizations, including his role as the founder and director of  the Great Land Conservation Trust. He also hosts a “green” drinks get-together, where interested people come to discuss environmental issues while enjoying eco-friendly refreshments.

Moving forward, Bennett says he’d like to support more member-voted initiatives. “I would like to get to a point where profits over what are needed to keep the bookstore running can be given to social justice organizations or to community organizations—I would love to sponsor a little league team,” (Zip06.com).

In the Deep River area? Come stop by the store! Inspired by this story? Look around you. What can you do to get more involved in your community? Kindness is connection and community.

Photo Credits: Thanks to Brandy Richards (Envision Kindness), Bennett Books, and Catherine Avalone (New Haven Register)

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.”

VOW Transportation Shows Us the Power of Opportunity and Understanding

#NiceWork VOW! VOW Transportation doesn’t just help its passengers get where they need to go, it gives them the opportunity to achieve more. Vision of Winning (VOW) and its founder and CEO, Lorenzo Stewart Sr. of Washington D.C, knows a thing or two about how important these opportunities can be.  

After spending years in and out of jail, Stewart was having trouble finding a job. “Nothing solid ever came through,” he explained in an interview with Courtland Milloy of the Washington Post. In addition to having a record, Stewart, struck by a stray bullet at 15 uses a wheelchair. With the support of a loving family, Stewart realized that in order to achieve success he needed to become his own boss. Fortunately, D.C. has started an incredible and kind program: Aspire to Entrepreneurship. This partnership between District agencies and Changing Perceptions provides ex-offenders with the necessary tools to start their own businesses. It believes in people to make a change for themselves. In December of 2016, Stewart got the loan he needed to make a difference (WUSA9). 

Stewart didn’t take this opportunity lightly. He took the kindness that was shown to him by D.C.’s program and decided to create something amazing with it. VOW isn’t your average business. This organization helps people with disabilities, seniors, and students with their transportation needs, a mission inspired by Stewart’s own life. VOW even offers free services. Because Stewart knows firsthand the importance of family support, he provides rides to people who want to visit their family members in prisons. Demand is high, so he’s hoping expansion is in his future. As of June 2017, he operates three 15-seat vans.

“It’s true that when we give returning citizens the right set of skills and opportunities, they will flourish,” D.C. Deputy Mayor Courtney R. Snowden said. Inspired by this story? Push for your state to support entrepreneurship programs like the one that helped Stewart in D.C. There are surely more kind organizations and people to be discovered.

 

Southern Connecticut Wine Company is Crushing Grapes and Creating a Better World

#NiceWork! Amanda Brackett, owner and founder of Southern Connecticut Wine Company in Wallingford, CT, creates some of the most interesting wines on the East Coast (try their blends).  But when you meet Amanda, you’ll notice that she loves more than a good Merlot: she loves people. She’s made her company into a force for social good. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a small-business this active in their community, this generous, and this fun to be around.

A Monterey Peninsula, CA native, Amanda loves making wine. “Making it keeps me creative, correcting faults keeps me learning and innovative, drinking it keeps me social and selling it keeps my husband happy,” she explained (My Record Journal). That passion, combined with an amazing team of all women, is leading this business to success. Southern Connecticut Wine Company is entirely owned and operated by females. They frequently use the hashtag, #girlsmakewinetoo. Amanda´s passion for female empowerment doesn’t end there – she´s a member of the the Killingworth Women’s organization too.

When she isn’t crushing grapes, Amanda is also involved in an enormous number of causes. As her business is growing, so is it’s list of charitable donations. Inspired by her husband, a veteran who was deployed the first year of their marriage in Kuwait, she serves as Chairperson of the Soldiers Box initiative, a program that sends local soldiers care packages while they are deployed. Southern Connecticut Wine Company also offers discounts to veterans, active duty service personnel and first responders.

The winery has given thousands of dollars to charity through donations including barrels of wine, winemaking classes and wine baskets to non-profits including: JDRF, Channel 3 Kids Camp, Make a Wish, Helo Haiti, Killingworth Refugee Resettlement Coalitions, Middletown Cooperative Preschools, and more. Amanda supports causes both in her neighborhood and abroad. If she hears about a group that needs assistance, she’s quick to jump in to help. Those closest to Amanda explain that she donates to so many groups, and so often, that it’s hard to keep track of them all. She’s also known to donate her space free of charge to a number of non-profits.

Want to support Amanda and SoConnWineCo.?  Stop by for a tour! And stay tuned – their online store will be up soon: http://soconnwineco.com/