B3 Coffee

B3 IS A NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES. USING THE WAY COFFEE BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, WE AIM TO FACILITATE COMMUNITY BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES AND ULTIMATELY ADVANCE DISABILITY JUSTICE, ALLYSHIP, AND INCLUSION.

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 THE ORGANIZATION OPERATED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:COMMUNITY PROGRAMMINGB3 OFFERS COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD AND LIFELONG LEARNING, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) A WORK READINESS CLASS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CLASS, AN ART CLASS, A HOBBY EXPLORATION CLASS, AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES. CURRENTLY, WE OFFER 2+ PROGRAMS PER SEMESTER; EACH PROGRAM SERVES UP TO 14 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND 4-6 ALLIES. WE INTEND TO GRADUALLY EXPAND THESE OFFERINGS AND ONE DAY OPEN A COMMUNITY CENTER/CLUBHOUSE MODEL THAT WILL HOUSE DAILY PROGRAMMING. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED BY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS ON B3 COFFEES PAYROLL. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FREE ADMISSION ARE OFFERED TO ANY PARTICIPANT FOR ANY PROGRAM, TO ENSURE EQUITY AND ACCESS TO LIFELONG LEARNING.KIOSKOUR KIOSK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY IS THE FIRST PERMANENT HUB FOR B3 COFFEE. TO ADDRESS THE SCARCITY OF COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, B3 HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT MODEL/PAID INTERNSHIP WHICH INVOLVES MEMBERS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES WORKING ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER. DURING THEIR TIME AT B3, INTERNS BUILD ON THEIR STRENGTHS, IDENTIFY THEIR SUPPORT NEEDS, AND GAIN CONFIDENCE AS THEY WORK IN A UNIVERSALLY DESIGNED WORK ENVIRONMENT. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PAID INTERNSHIP, WE AIM TO CONNECT INTERNS WITH LONG TERM EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL NON-DISABLED INTERNS RECEIVE DISABILITY ALLYSHIP TRAINING, AND MANY NON-DISABLED INTERNS UTILIZE THIS EXPERIENCE AS PREPARATION FOR HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONS (OT, SOCIAL WORK, ETC).SOCIAL OFFERINGSB3 OFFERS A FLOURISHING SOCIAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES, WHICH MEETS MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK (I.E., WEEKLY COFFEE HOUR AT THE KIOSK, MONTHLY INCLUSIVE BOOK CLUB, MONTHLY HOLIDAY THEMED/CULTURAL EVENTS OR FIELD TRIPS). TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY (I.E., TRANSPORTATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS), B3 ALSO OFFERS A WEEKLY VIRTUAL SOCIAL IN ADDITION TO THEIR IN-PERSON OFFERINGS. (3) B3 OFFERS A "POP UP" COFFEE SERVICE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS (I.E., CONFERENCES, TEACHER APPRECIATION DAYS), WHICH HAS ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT/VISIBILITY FOR OUR MEMBERS.