Skills of Life Cafe, a trailer-based cafe in Santa Cruz, was launched by Molly Turner in October 2024.It offers teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to gain employment by serving in the community."I would love people to come and get snacks and food here and support our business, that is working with special needs people because it's a great cause," said Haydi Bowsher, an intern at the cafe. Seven interns are working on developing different skills each week, preparing them for real-world jobs."Being able to be around the community would probably help me in my goal because I actually do want to work in the food industry," intern Bryce Crocker said. Turner launched the nonprofit due to the scarcity of job development opportunities for teens with special needs, both during high school and after graduation. "Oftentimes, they get disregarded before they even have an opportunity, and so this is more or less a boot camp, you can call it," Turner said. "We have a curriculum, and we're learning a lot of the hidden skills that's necessary for holding down a job."Each week, interns focus on a specific theme, such as time management, organization, or self-regulation skills."It's teaching her such responsibility to honor her schedule, and if she has a conflict, she texts her boss and says, 'Can I please switch my shift?' So the sense of responsibility that it puts on her on her lap is amazing, not to mention she earns some money of her own," said Haydi Bowsher's mom, Trina Bowsher. The program can accommodate up to 12 interns at once. Each intern participates in the program for 11 months, completing 90 shifts. The upcoming session is set to begin in September. "Kids with all different abilities live in all communities, and I think it's an important aspect that we honor people of all abilities and we give job training to everybody," Trina Bowsher said.
Skills of Life Cafe, a trailer-based cafe in Santa Cruz, was launched by Molly Turner in October 2024.
It offers teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to gain employment by serving in the community.
"I would love people to come and get snacks and food here and support our business, that is working with special needs people because it's a great cause," said Haydi Bowsher, an intern at the cafe.
Seven interns are working on developing different skills each week, preparing them for real-world jobs.
"Being able to be around the community would probably help me in my goal because I actually do want to work in the food industry," intern Bryce Crocker said.
Turner launched the nonprofit due to the scarcity of job development opportunities for teens with special needs, both during high school and after graduation.
"Oftentimes, they get disregarded before they even have an opportunity, and so this is more or less a boot camp, you can call it," Turner said. "We have a curriculum, and we're learning a lot of the hidden skills that's necessary for holding down a job."
Each week, interns focus on a specific theme, such as time management, organization, or self-regulation skills.
"It's teaching her [Haydi] such responsibility to honor her schedule, and if she has a conflict, she texts her boss and says, 'Can I please switch my shift?' So the sense of responsibility that it puts on her on her lap is amazing, not to mention she earns some money of her own," said Haydi Bowsher's mom, Trina Bowsher.
The program can accommodate up to 12 interns at once. Each intern participates in the program for 11 months, completing 90 shifts.
The upcoming session is set to begin in September.
"Kids with all different abilities live in all communities, and I think it's an important aspect that we honor people of all abilities and we give job training to everybody," Trina Bowsher said.