Visionary Deaf Jamaican Business Owners Craft Beans With a Mission for Specialty Coffee Production
Deaf Can! Coffee: Empowering the Deaf Community Through Specialty Coffee
In the heart of Kingston, Jamaica, a unique social enterprise is making waves in the coffee industry while promoting inclusivity and empowerment for the deaf community. Deaf Can! Coffee is more than just a coffee shop—it's a movement that aims to break barriers and create opportunities for deaf individuals.
The inspiration for Deaf Can! Coffee came from a visit to St. Elizabeth, where the team met deaf farmer Evelyn Clarke. Her resilience and passion for coffee farming sparked the idea of creating a social enterprise that could provide employment opportunities for deaf workers.
Deaf Can! Coffee's journey began in 2015, with its grand opening on March 19. Since then, it has received funding from the Digicel Foundation for solar energy power and the construction of a new, fully equipped training facility. This facility, located on the campus of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, serves as a hub for skill development and community engagement.
Carlyle Gabbidon, the manager and head barista, originally trained as a tiler. Fabian Jackson, another deaf team member, brings his expertise in customer service to the table. Both expressed discomfort with the labels used for deaf people in Jamaica, emphasizing their desire to create a collective, healthy, and supportive culture at Deaf Can! Coffee.
Deaf Can! Coffee's offerings extend beyond roasted coffee. They also sell merchandise, including T-shirts and mugs, and are planning to branch out to a cafe menu in the near future, with new equipment such as an oven for baking and a salad bar stand.
The enterprise's tagline, "Engage, Equip, Empower," encapsulates its mission to engage the community, equip deaf individuals with skills, and empower them to take their place in the workforce. Deaf graphic designer Justin Forbes is working on logos for Deaf Can! Coffee's new products, Nitro Cold Brew and Cold Coffee Energy Drink.
Deaf Can! Coffee's impact goes beyond the local community. In February, they welcomed special guest Claudia Gordon, the first deaf, black, female attorney-at-law in the United States. Kemoy Campbell, an alumnus of the school and a tech entrepreneur, designed Deaf Can! Coffee's website and will be visiting for an internship to design a "self-order kiosk."
The blue mahoe wood counter at Deaf Can! Coffee was made by residents at the Jamaica Deaf Village, demonstrating the enterprise's commitment to local craftsmanship and community collaboration.
Deaf Can! Coffee is a testament to the power of inclusivity and the potential for social enterprises to drive change. By focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, and the promotion of deaf culture, Deaf Can! Coffee is not just a coffee shop—it's a beacon of hope for the deaf community in Jamaica and beyond.
You can learn more about Deaf Can! Coffee on their website, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Together, we can help create a more inclusive and tolerant society.
[1] Source: Deaf Can! Coffee official website and various news articles.
- Deaf Can! Coffee's mission extends to various aspects of lifestyle, providing not only specialty coffee but also merchandise and planning a cafe menu.
- The enterprise, in its pursuit of education and self-development, offers training facilities and equips deaf individuals with skills for career development.
- Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are used by Deaf Can! Coffee to disseminate information and promote their vision of personal growth and social inclusivity.
- Entertainment and sports enthusiasts might find interesting stories from Deaf Can! Coffee's interactions with notable guests like Claudia Gordon, a Deaf attorney, and Kemoy Campbell, a Deaf tech entrepreneur, who specializes in self-order kiosk design.
- The Deaf Can! Coffee team is passionate about upholding a culture of inclusivity and equality, stepped forward in the coffee industry and beyond, transforming themselves from a unique coffee shop into a beacon of hope for the deaf community.
