Lindsay Wrege and Michael Evans didn’t know much about operating a business. But that all changed when they decided, as freshmen at N.C. State University, to launch a coffee shop to create employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
321 Coffee — named to represent Down syndrome as the third copy of chromosome 21 — began in 2017 as volunteer-run pop-up coffee services at events on N.C. State’s campus and in the Raleigh area. It has since grown to be a permanent vendor at the State Farmers Market employing 21 baristas who have various intellectual and developmental disabilities, not exclusively Down syndrome.
“There are people who are definitely more qualified than us to go out and do this, but at the same time you just have to combat that with a willingness to learn and self teach and ask questions and watch YouTube videos and recognize that you're not going to do everything right the first time and that's okay. It's a journey,” says Wrege, who serves as CEO.
The inspiration for the coffee shop stems from Wrege’s upbringing – she says some of her first friends in elementary school who she has remained close with have disabilities – and the realization that inclusion has not permeated deeply into the professional space.
The statistic that's stuck with her is that 80 percent of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed. And that’s a number 321 Coffee is hoping to reduce by promoting a model of inclusion for other businesses to follow.
321 Coffee has provided over 3,000 hours of meaningful work opportunities with baristas selling more than 18,000 drinks each year.
The business is targeting partnerships with companies who would like to stock 321 Coffee beans in office break rooms, incorporate a cafe into their office or even hire any of their barista talent.
Bios
Age: 22
Birthplace: Cary
Education: B.S., business administration with concentration in entrepreneurship, N.C. State University
Age: 22
Birthplace: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Education: B.S. and master's, statistics, N.C. State University
Q&A
Lindsay:
What was your first job? Camp counselor at Camp Carefree.
How do you destress? Spending time with people and outdoor activities.
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur? Always ask the question because you never know what someone will say yes to. And if you ask, and the answer is no, just ask a different question.
Michael:
What was your first job? Pizza delivery.
How do you destress? Enjoying the outdoors or physical activity?
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur? You never know until you ask and you have to ask for everything.