MI WORK MATTERS

WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE EVERY PERSON WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD) HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR TALENTS, BELONG IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND PURSUE MEANINGFUL GOALS. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BUILT ON RESPECT, INCLUSION, AND EMPOWERMENT AS WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP SKILLS, GAIN INDEPENDENCE, AND BUILD CONFIDENCE IN A REAL-WORLD SETTING. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, WE CULTIVATE A CULTURE WHERE PARTICIPANTS ARE VALUED TEAM MEMBERS WHOSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS MATTER. THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS AND ADVOCATES OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IN 2023 THE ORGANIZATION WELCOMED THEIR FIRST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. BY INTEGRATING INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD INTO VISIBLE COMMUNITY SPACES, WE CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS AND FOSTER GENUINE CONNECTIONS. MI WORK MATTERS (MWM) OPENED ANASTASIA AND KATIE'S COFFEE SHOP & CAFE IN DECEMBER 2019 TO ADDRESS THE EXCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD) FROM THE WORKFORCE. WHAT BEGAN AS A WELCOMING NEIGHBORHOOD CAFE PROVIDING CUSTOMER-FACING JOBS HAS GROWN INTO A VIBRANT SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WITH A WAITLIST OF OVER 60 INDIVIDUALS EAGER TO WORK. BUILDING ON THIS SUCCESS, MWM LAUNCHED A FORMAL, HANDS-ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM LED BY A LICENSED VOCATIONAL TEACHER AND SUPPORTED BY CAFE STAFF. THE PROGRAM TEACHES CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMMUNICATION, AND JOB- READINESS SKILLS IN A REAL CAFE ENVIRONMENT, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN BY DOING. EACH SESSION CONCLUDES WITH A CELEBRATION OF SKILLS - SUCH AS A FRIENDS-AND-FAMILY SERVICE OR A SIGNATURE MENU CREATION. GRADUATES MAY ADVANCE TO THE WORK READINESS TRAINING PILOT, GAINING ONE-ON-ONE COACHING DURING LIVE SHIFTS AND PREPARING FOR PAID EMPLOYMENT AT ONE OF OUR CAFES. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER PARTICIPANTS A CLEAR PATHWAY FROM TRAINING TO PAID WORK. MWM WILL EXPAND ITS IMPACT BY OPENING THE GOOD & STRONG CAFE IN LATE 2025, INSIDE THE NEW LIVONIA SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF LIVONIA PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THE CAFE WILL DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE PAID TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH I/DD. OUR MOBILE COFFEE CART IN THE LIVONIA PUBLIC LIBRARY, OFFERS ADDITIONAL WORK- BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WITH OVER FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RUNNING INCLUSIVE BUSINESSES, MWM SUPPORTS OVER 75 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH PAID EMPLOYMENT, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE EMPLOYMENT AMBASSADOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHERE SELF-ADVOCATES EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON INCLUSIVE HIRING, AND THE GOOD & STRONG CLUB, WHICH PROMOTES SOCIAL CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. TOGETHER, MWM'S PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN INTERCONNECTED STRUCTURE, EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND MEANINGFUL ROLES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.