Students connect with coffee

THE UNIT 1 School District’s Transitions Program has launched a coffee business and is brewing up blends from Connect Roasters. Students and staff involved in the business of brewing coffee are (from (left) Bre'Anna Conterez, Anna Gilchrist, Meg Eisenhower, Katie Easton, Deborah Campos, Ronald Harris, Karen Carlson, Mackenzie Blair, Kayleigh Hullett and Alyssa Armstrong. Courtesy photo

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By Michael Lopez & Ronald Harris
Special to the Courant

The Coal City Transitions Program, established in 2016, believes in fostering independence and self-determination skills to empower young adults within the program to increase skills to be productive citizens within their school and community.
Transitions participants are involved in gaining daily living skills, vocational training, employment, community participation, volunteering, and numerous real life applications.
Over several years, students have had a homemade soap business, a jewelry business and raised chickens to sell the farm fresh eggs all as program projects.
In spring 2018, administration had the idea of a student-led coffee business at our district high school.
A little about our coffee source, Coffee Connects. Caleb Beniot is the founder/CEO of Connect Roasters and along with his team travels to under developed countries such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia to get their community people growing coffee. Beniot sells coffee locally, a percentage of his sales help the countries with medical and education purposes.
Connect, the school’s coffee shop, operates Monday and Friday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Coal City High School. Currently, it is serving an iced coffee blend.
Positions held within Connect were established utilizing student strengths and skills. Transition students had to apply and interview for their positions such as baristas, clerks, custodians, delivery drivers and social committee.
Connect Coffee has added an extra day serving to staff at the high school, served other schools and participated in school events and served for businesses such as Lyondell.
In the future, Connect is interested in more opportunities to serve within the community.