Bridget was enrolled in Aspire’s independent living program when she learned about a job opportunity at Aspire CoffeeWorks. “When I heard about the chance to work at Aspire CoffeeWorks and saw how they roasted coffee, I thought, that’s my dream job!” said Bridget.
One of Aspire CoffeWorks’ first employees, Bridget was hired and, after some initial training, began bagging, labeling, and shipping freshly roasted coffee. She quickly found the work exciting, especially since it was something completely new to her. She took pride in learning the process and growing her skills.
Shortly after joining the Aspire CoffeeWorks team, Bridget was hired as a full-time team member by Metropolis Coffee Company, who noticed her talent right away. “There are so many new things to learn,” said Bridget, “like bagging coffee, sealing the bags, even shipping.” She enjoyed the responsibility and independence that came with her role.
Not surprisingly, Bridget’s family was incredibly proud of her - proud that she had a steady job, managed a long commute by bus, and did everything it took to live independently.
Bridget had come a long way. While she described herself as naturally quiet and a little shy, she credited Aspire and Aspire CoffeeWorks with helping her grow. “Aspire helped me learn how to express myself instead of keeping everything inside like I used to do. I’m really happy that I can sit and have a conversation with someone, because that’s not something I was able to do before.”
Aspire and Aspire CoffeeWorks are extremely impressed with Bridget and all that she has accomplished. She is a powerful example of personal growth, independence, and success in the workplace. Today, Bridget still works closely with Aspire, but she has left the coffee industry in pursuit of starting a career in a totally different field, eager to learn new skills and continue growing. We are excited to see where Bridget’s journey takes her!