How Inclusive Coffee Came To Be
From the desk of Laurel Bucci, Director of The Arc of Midland
How It All Started…
Just after the birth of my first child. I can remember our first coffee shop opening in Midland. I would say to friends, “do you want to meet for coffee?” It was never really to meet for coffee, it was to meet for conversation. There were several of us, we would bring our babies, books, knitting, (I didn’t even knit because I am left-handed and can’t figure it out) or maybe even a project to work on. While in the coffee shop, over the course of several hours, we would not complete a single project, but we would engage in great conversation!
Today, I say “do you want to have coffee?” And it is never for coffee. It is still for conversation! I love everything about the idea of going out for coffee and how I feel when I am “having coffee”, in a coffee shop, sipping coffee on a patio , at the kitchen table, in a park or while in the office. However, it is the conversations and relationships that I continue to enjoy the most!
How Inclusive Blend Came to Mind
A year ago, while The Arc of Midland celebrated the culmination of our Martin Luther King Day of service, and while enjoying conversations with our partners, is when Inclusive Blend came to mind. It was not specific to coffee, and at that time I was not in a decision-making position to expand our programming at The Arc of Midland. I wasn’t exactly sure how Inclusive Blend might be used, but it was an idea I would tuck away for another day. My mind works overtime some days, thinking of all the ideas I have and what I would love to do with people! Inclusive Blend is one of the new programs that is under the umbrella of Partnering for People that The Arc of Midland is in the process of launching.
What Does “Inclusive Blend” Mean?
Inclusive Blend will have many connotations. To some they might just like the name, maybe they identify with it. Maybe you just don’t know what it means, but it sparks your interest. The hope is that you will want to know more. The idea is that it gets people talking. Talking within themselves, as large corporations, individuals or agencies, with hope that The Arc of Midland will become a partner and be invited to have conversations about ways of becoming more inclusive!
““Inclusive Blend is a conversation starter! Conversations build relationships! Relationships are what we live for!””
Partnering for People
Partnering for People is a way for us to come together year-round. Inclusive Blend provides a creative platform to expand conversation, with the potential for advancing our community and providing more inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This has the potential to increase friendships, employment opportunities, acceptance, understanding, basic respect, community integration, with attention to valuing all people and affording them opportunities to participate in existing programs, instead of creating separate programs specifically for people with disabilities or other marginalized groups.
How to be More Inclusive
The Arc of Midland would like to engage in conversations with you, specifically - how to be more inclusive! The Arc of Midland is creating new programing, while reminding you we are here for people! If you don’t know about us, we are an organization with expertise in community building and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our organization has been serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for almost 70 years.
Partnering for People is a new program at The Arc of Midland. Partnerships are important to us, and vital to our existence. Inclusive Blend is about community conversations over coffee! We would love to bring you coffee and start a conversation with you! Partnering for People is essential for growth in our community!
Does Inclusive Blend excite you as much as it does us? Inclusive Blend is creating a buzz already! We are looking for interested partners…will you join us?