The North Suburban YMCA’s Café Voca, which opened in September 2021, recently received a Program Excellence award from the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs and the YMCA Professional Network in September, according to a news release.
Café Voca is a coffee bar that provides vocational training and employment experience for individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges. The Program Excellence Award celebrates Y programs that are innovative and make a difference in communities across the state of Illinois. This award was presented at the Illinois Fall Staff Rally held in September, the release said.
Café Voca’s program participants are 16 years and older and are recruited throughout the community, Y programs, and the local school district transition program, TruNorth, the release said. The participants learn about job responsibilities, customer service, and resume building. At the end of the program, they also participate in mock interviews.
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Nationally, only 20% of individuals with special needs who want to work are employed. Over the last two years, 50% of the NSYMCA’s Café Voca participants were offered permanent jobs at local businesses like McDonalds, Sunset Foods and Forever 21, according to the release.
“Program families are finding that the Y is a place of acceptance and inclusion,” Kathy Fielding, NSYMCA CEO, said. “As a result, NSYMCA’s young adults with disabilities are flourishing, making connections on a deeper level with our members and families at the Y.”
One Café Voca participant plays guitar, and the Y invited her to do a “concert” in the lobby after shifts. “This training program has taught my daughter responsibility, patience, and team work,” the girl’s mother exclaimed. “Café Voca taught my daughter many new skills for her future employment.”
The Café Voca program was originated in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chicagoland Korean-Northbrook (RCCKN) and funded the first two years through a global grant from Rotary International, according to the release. The Y worked with many partners to develop the program including Autism Workforce, Healthy Choice Vending and Wheat Mission.
When the grant money was exhausted the Y decided to continue the program and has had to absorb the costs ever since and is currently looking for businesses and donors who might consider supporting programs like Café Voca, the release said.
“The Y’s ability to offer this training has enhanced the lives of many young people in our community to feel accomplished and a sense of belonging to a work environment as well as a social network,” Ellen Mirochnik, NSYMCA’s Special Services Coordinator, said.