We All Scream for Ice Cream
Job opportunities, the longing to be included in productive, meaningful contributions to our communities is the desire of every young adult and also one of the biggest hurdles in our system today.
It’s basic common sense, the human experience, to know we all have something to offer, talents, strengths, passions, and come on employers – we are all trainable! That was my cry as a student fresh out of school and on the hunt for a job – I’ve got something to offer and I’m totally teachable. So why aren’t more employers opening wide their doors to the people we support? Why is the unemployment rate so high?
I can’t answer that, and I can’t fix it but I do want to point out that it really only takes a little creativity and energy to spark change. All over the country, I’m finding new start-up businesses launched by, or completely employed by people with disabilities. Their towns, rural communities, or booming cities might not have offered job postings but these individual friend or family run businesses are paving the way to showcase what thriving businesses people can create, maintain, and bring to society. Communities are beautified when our gifts are spotlighted.
Photo permission granted by Hunter & Michelle Norwood.
In Dawson, Alabama, there is an ice cream truck called A Little Something Extra. Hunter Norwood is the CEO and also happens to have Down Syndrome. His mother, Michelle Norwood explained that the business name stemmed from the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome. A Little Something Extra employs several “ice cream experts”, people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, showcasing that people have much to offer employers.
The business launched in August 2018 defying family worries that Hunter would not be able to have a job in their rural town. To learn more about Hunter’s story, you might want to grab a copy of the book his mother penned called “Stars in My Eyes.” Her title was chosen due to Brushfield spots or “stars” that people with Down Syndrome often have. “The stars are there to remind us of their purpose and ability” she says. I’d say A Little Something Extra would be a star in any community. Visit their facebook page at facebook.com/pg/extraicecream/posts/. Or drop by their website, alittlesomethingextraicecream.com
In May 2020, despite the economic hardships brought on by COVID-19, a Wisconsin business took flight and is soaring. Sweet Abilities is an ice cream shop situated in a cute mobile trailer. The founder, Kristen Corrie, was a Special Education Teacher who saw a way to meet the glaring need for employment opportunities for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
The goal was to provide a place for people to develop workplace skills and be an equal opportunity business for people with different abilities. The traveling booth partners with several local businesses to sell at their site for an afternoon or the weekend. They are able to do safe socially distanced business serving pre-packaged frozen treats from the Purple Door, which made them the perfect business to start amidst 2020.
We scream for ice cream and cheer for Sweet Abilities. Check out their facebook page at facebook.com/Sweet-Abilities-103152478062257/
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream is located in Dallas Texas but this franchise has the potential to cover the states. Their mission states “Howdy Homemade is on a relentless pursuit to provide employment for individuals with special needs.” The website mentions two priorities that hit home for me: “amazing ice cream and even better people.” It really can’t get better than that.
Recognizing people first, Tom Landis, the business owner of Howdy Homemade and influential force behind thirteen other restaurants, still works with his first hire, Manuel Ramirez – that’s job retention! Despite hardships in 2020, Howdy Homemade is now in position to launch four new franchises and provide about forty-five new jobs due to the rallying support of their community, employees, and a grant from Marcus Lemonis (CNBC’s The Profit). Hoda and Jenna hosted the story October 9, 2020. Need more reasons to check them out? True to their Texas roots, they created a signature flavor – Dr. Pepper Chocolate Chip ice cream. Visit their website at howdyhomemade.com.
Wish I was closer to all three of these tasty cool stops. But what about Pennsylvania? Can we bring these models to our communities? Will you be the next to start a business? Will you help someone you know launch their dream, ice cream or otherwise? I hope to read of you next in the news, or better yet, call me up to interview your entrepreneurial debut.
