SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Advocates Incorporated has served the Central New York community for over 20 years. This nonprofit organization strives to promote personal growth, empower and support people with disabilities. Advocates hosts many community get-togethers and this summer has brought back its summer kickball team.
Advocates is incredibly unique in that it provides one-on-one mentorship. In essence, the organization recruits potential mentors and helps match them with a citizen.
Director of recruitment and event organizer Justin Coyne says Advocates strives to truly help anyone and everyone in the disabled community. They serve a wide range of clients suffering from intellectual, developmental and physical limitations.
¨It is very much catered towards the individual and tailored to their needs,¨ Coyne says.
Advocates latest project is adding a coffee shop to the community. Located in Liverpool, New York, the coffee shop will be mostly employed by Advocates clients. These clients will be able to earn a paycheck while serving customers alongside their mentors.
According to Coyne, the idea for the shop initially stemmed from the ¨extremely slim¨ employment opportunities available to people with disabilities. However, the greater goal of the shop is to empower individuals and provide them with work experience to build off of in the future.
The coffee shop is currently undergoing interior design touch-ups and employee training is tentatively set for October.
