The Friendship Cafe
PhotoSesh was a proud sponsor of the Photography for the
Grand Opening
of
The Friendship Cafe
PhotoSesh Credit: Chris Headshots via PhotoSesh
It was an absolute honor to play a small role in The Friendship Café's Grand Opening. As many of you know PhotoSesh contributes on-demand photography services regularly to non-profits and charity events. At this event we were able to utilize one of our top talents in Fort Lauderdale - Chris HeadShots via PhotoSesh.
The Friendship Cafe is located on 1306 East Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale where they train and hire adults with special needs. What an amazing initiative this group has put forth within the community. During the ribbon cutting, Mayor Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale declared January 15th “Friendship Cafe Day.” PhotoSesh is proud to play a part of such an amazing program! Congratulations to everyone involved and what they’ve accomplished.
The Friendship Cafe Story
WWW.FRIENDSHIPCAFEFL.ORG
MISSION
Friendship Cafe offers employment training and education to adults and young adults with developmental disabilities who want to work in the food service, hospitality or customer service industry.
WHY FRIENDSHIP CAFE
Young adults with disabilities face a daunting challenge when they enter their working-stage. That’s because federally mandated services in many cases simply stop. So, in addition to losing out on programs, they also lose chances to just hang with friends. According to the US Department of Labor, approximately 8 in 10 persons with disabilities were not in the labor force in 2018 as compared to 3 in 10 of those with no disability.
The barrier keeping people with disabilities from the workplace is attitudinal, hindered by low expectations for people with disabilities. Most special need adults have little prospect of meaningful employment and therefore the ability to build social skills needed for the workforce. Some individuals are relegated into “disability-only” workshops, or into jobs that do not pay a minimum wage, creating an environment with little expectation of meaningful competitive employment.
At Friendship Cafe we show the world that we need to get rid of our stereotypical images and view each individual as just that, an individual.
ABOUT THE CAFE
The Friendship Cafe is a unique cafe serving top quality food and at the same time meeting the needs of special needs adults in the South Florida area. The Friendship Cafe is an extension of The Friendship Circle of Fort Lauderdale, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The Cafe is our training and workplace setting for adults from The Friendship Circle.
The Friendship Cafe focuses on ABILITIES, not disabilities. We are a safe, secure and nurturing environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our aim is to encourage and convert unique abilities into meaningful job skills, fostering friendships, and a sense of belonging. Our Friendship employees develop a sense of pride that comes from contributing to their own support.
DONATE
You can donate to The Friendship Circle of Greater Fort Lauderdale through the DONATE button (it redirects to Friendship Circle of Greater Fort Lauderdale site).
Your donation makes a difference!
WPLG Local 10 News Coverage
THIS IS GREAT! A cafe opened today on Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale that employs people with special needs. Check out Friendship Café
Photography coverage by Chris Headshots via PhotoSesh
You can find Chris H. and thousands more of our talented pros across the country on the PhotoSesh App!
(HIGHLIGHTS + GALLERY BELOW)
PhotoSesh for Charity
(Left) Chris “Headshots” is a top photographer in the Fort Lauderdale area. (Right) Dean Myerow - One of the community leaders behind the Friendship Cafe