UNMC’s java junkies have another option as of last week — the OpPOURtunity Brew Coffee Cart, currently open for business from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays on the second floor of the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH is a one-year, total workplace immersion vocational training program that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn the necessary job skills to become competitively employed. Interns do several rotations in various med center sites.
Partners in the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH program include the Munroe-Meyer Institute, Madonna School, Vodec, Omaha Public Schools, Sodexo, Cardinal Health, Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and the Assistive Technology Partbership.
The coffee cart, which serves lattes, cappuccinos, specialty coffees and other drinks, is part of the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine’s Project SEARCH program. Funded with a grant from the Munroe-Meyer Guild, the cart allows adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to train for potential jobs in coffee shops.
On opening day Jan. 29, the cart drew 53 customers. Project SEARCH intern Ulysses Hernandez, with help from Transition and Employment Services Program Manager Tara Harper and her team, brewed and served the drinks for his appreciative customers.
“This is fun,” Hernandez said.
One Project SEARCH intern will man the cart for each of the program’s 10-week rotations. Hernandez is the first trainee. Beginning Feb. 26, hours will expand to 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Ian Froemming, employment services liaison, functions as a job coach to help Hernandez learn all aspects of being a barista.
“Ulysses will learn how to open and close a business, make espresso drinks, and run a cash register,” Froemming said.
Project SEARCH staff expects the job site will be in high demand among the interns.
The cart grossed $200 on opening day. Proceeds will be used to cover overhead, Harper said, with all other profit used to support MMI’s vocational programs.
“We’re very happy with the first day and the great turnout,” Harper said. “We hope people continue to support it, because this will help our other employment programs grow, as well.”
Luann Rabe, president of the Munroe-Meyer Guild, made sure to stop by on opening day for a beverage.
“The cart is very eye-appealing, it’s running effectively, and it’s great to hear that there are more than 50 people who have been through here,” she said.
The guild, a longtime supporter of Project SEARCH at the med center, is pleased to have helped create another job training avenue, Rabe said.
“That’s what we want, for these young people to have a chance to learn and then graduate to job opportunities out in the real world,” she said.
Awesome!! Great work MMI!!!
Wonderful! Can we get one of those up here in the College of Public Health?!
This is awesome! What a wonderful idea! Wearing jeans (Denim for Disabilities) today and supporting MMI!! Keep up the great work!
This is so great! I would love to see more of these carts on campus as more of the SEARCH staff receive training!
Ulysses does a great job! This cart is a great addition to MMI.
Coffee Bike build by company called: Ferla Bikes