WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. – West Bloomfield’s Soul Cafe is doing more than serving breakfast. It’s helping adults with special needs learn real-life skills and be part of a community.
David Kole, 31, has been working at Soul Cafe for nine years. He does everything from making coffee to baking cookies.
“I like the company, working with my friends, and making myself coffee,” he said.
The cafe teaches adults with special needs, like David, important job skills, including communication and teamwork.
Soul Cafe is part of Friendship Circle’s Soul Projects.
Shalom Shomer, director of food operations for Friendship Circle, said, “We gave them tools to be able to function within the world, but then we saw that they were staying home. They weren’t really getting out and utilizing those skills that they could in the workforce.”
That’s when Soul Cafe was created -- a place where customers and employees feel welcome and connected.
“They’re always so happy, they’re happy to be there, they love what they do,” Shomer said. “All they want to do is come to work and have fun, and we love that.”
Soul Cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Friday.