‘Just Brew It’ is serving up new opportunities for adults with special needs in Santa Clarita, as the client-run coffee shop at Agape Village celebrated its grand reopening Friday in a newly renovated space dedicated to job training, independence and community connection.
Located at the Valencia Town Center, the coffee shop gives clients hands-on customer service experience while helping them build confidence, develop workplace skills and practice everyday social interactions, according to Agape Village staff.
“It’s their place to learn, to practice job skills, to practice job training,” said Jessica Escorza, co-founder and co-program director of Agape Village.
Agape Village is a nonprofit adult day program founded by Escorza and Tim Smith to serve adults with special needs in the Santa Clarita Valley, headquartered at the Valencia Town Center.
Escorza said the organization is working to address a growing need for services for adults with special needs in the community.
“We’re serving a need for the adult population here that is so large in Santa Clarita, and we’re growing faster than we can keep up with, and we’re just trying to bridge that gap of need here in our community,” Escorza said.
At Just Brew It, clients can take on different roles based on their interests and abilities, whether that means working the register, greeting customers or helping prepare orders.
The experience offers more than a chance to learn coffee shop operations. It also gives clients opportunities to interact with customers, practice communication and develop skills they can use in other areas of their lives.
“They desire an opportunity to work, an opportunity to show what they can do,” Escorza said.
The coffee shop is part of Agape Village’s broader job-training program, which also includes Agape Designs, a client-run heat-press business. The organization’s learning center offers social skills and job skills lessons, volunteering opportunities, adaptive fitness and community outings.
Visitors can enjoy drinks and coffee cake on a donation basis, while merchandise is available for purchase.
The grand reopening follows renovations intended to create a welcoming space where clients can continue learning and working alongside members of the community.
Families also got an early look at the renovated shop during a preview event, with glowing reactions.
“Lots of tears, lots of smiles, just the utmost words of appreciation to just provide a space like this,” Escorza said.
Jade Aubuchon | KHTS News
She said families were excited to see the space and proud to have a place where their loved ones could develop skills, find a sense of belonging and show what they can do.
Just Brew It initially plans to open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m., with the organization considering expanding to Monday through Friday in the new year.
Escorza encouraged Santa Clarita residents to stop by, meet the clients and learn more about the program.
“We love our community, and we’re just excited to be open again,” Escorza said.
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