Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
A new coffee shop just opened in Baton Rouge, and it serves much more than cups of joe to the community. Stir Coffee House, at 15405 Airline Highway, opened Oct. 31, and at least 80% of employees have intellectual or developmental differences. Owner Katie Jenkins also runs a local clinic for children 10 and under with autism, the Grace Therapy Center, which inspired her to start the coffee business. “I started looking for holes in the community of things that Baton Rouge is really missing out on,” Jenkins said. “And employment for all of the babies that I had that grew up is really a struggle.” Whether customers order a coffee, tea or dirty soda, Jenkins hopes they'll leave having made new friendships. Grounds for growth The 25 employees at Stir passed two rounds of interviews and trained for a couple of weeks before opening. They learned how to operate Eversys, a user-friendly espresso machine that pulls the shot itself and foams the milk. “We invested in this machine that pretty much anyone can use,” Jenkins said. “With just a couple of buttons they can get a consistent, really good cup of coffee and no risks of getting burned or anything like that.” During training, employees tried several roles to see what they enjoyed doing. Once there was a fit, they learned how to perfect that role. Since opening the spot, Jenkins enjoys seeing which employees rock and roll with the pressure of longer customer lines. Or if an employee gets nervous with the rush, she enjoys seeing who opts to help one another. One of the baristas, Brennan Ferguson, 23, is from St. Francisville, and he heard about the job through Arc Baton Rouge, a nonprofit that’s served children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for almost 70 years through advocacy and services. “I just wanted something to do, and I wanted to work,” Ferguson said. His favorite part of the job is meeting new people and making drinks, especially lattes. He said the job is a new experience, and it’s something he enjoys. “This is my first job,” Ferguson. “I feel good because I’m experiencing something I thought I couldn’t do.” Encouraging personal victories Employee Daniel Canaday, 33, holds various responsibilities at Stir Coffee, and sometimes he's the first friendly face to greet customers at the door. While he isn’t a coffee or tea drinker, he likes to start his mornings off with his favorite beverage: orange juice. “I clean up,” Canaday said. “Sort the cups, I clean the tables and chairs. I take out the garbage.” He said he’s met some friends since starting the job and listed a few names, Jenkins being one of them. When he’s not at work, Canaday loves to travel, particularly to Houston, and he noted how the telephone poles outside the shop look like the ones in Texas too. He’s also a talented writer and storyteller. “Actually, not only am I a worker, not only am I an employee, but also a book writer,” Canaday said. A corner of the coffee shop holds a few books for customers to flip through, one of them being “The Grosse Tete Six,” by Canaday. The picture book follows the adventure of six animals in the mid-1990s as they fight against the construction of a resort in the Louisiana swamp. Partners and private events Stir Coffee partnered with Stride, a nonprofit encouraging other local businesses to hire employees with intellectual and developmental differences. The mission bridges the gap of employment, and Jenkins hopes Stride is the action piece that makes a difference in the community. There are places in town that employ people with special needs, but they don’t display it like Stir Coffee, Jenkins said. The tables and chairs make the business a great spot to hang out or get work done. It also hosts private events for up to 40 people after 6 p.m., another way to support the business. “If anyone wants to host a Bible study or a meeting or a little small Christmas party, we could do that and we can open up the bar,” she said. At the end of the day, everyone is touched by special needs in some way, Jenkins said. "I think it’s a very easy mission to get behind," she said. "And who doesn’t want a good cup of coffee?” Stir Coffee, 15405 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Currently closed Sundays, but that may change soon.
