Nonprofit provides workforce training for those with disabilities, mental health challenges
Staff and clients at The Friendship Circle gather for a photo.
If you stroll into Fox Point’s Friendship Circle Café, nothing will lead you to believe it’s an out-of-the-ordinary coffee shop. The drinks hit the spot. The pastries are delicious. The vibe is relaxed.
But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find there’s much more to this café hidden amongst retailers in a small shopping complex off of I-43.
“Our story is pretty fascinating,” said Levi Stein, President and CEO of The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin.
Through its social, educational and vocational programs, The Friendship Circle creates opportunities for individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges. The coffee shop – staffed by clientele of the non-profit – is just one of its many programs.
“This location is much more than just a café,” said Stein. “We run mental health programming, suicide prevention trainings, volunteer programs, art and baking programs, social and recreational programs and a year-long employment training program – so there’s a lot of exciting programming happening here every single day.”
Giving people the skills to succeed in the workplace is a huge focus for The Friendship Circle. While in the café, coffee, Danish and great service are the draw, behind the scenes, the organization’s 12-month training program sets the stage for confidence, capability and independence so clients can take their skills anywhere.
“The employment program is very intentional and structured,” said Stein. “It’s a 12-month training program. When someone graduates, we either hire them internally or help place them with one of our partner employers. We currently partner with about 50 local businesses.”
The employment program is broken down week-to-week and includes:
- Proper communication in the workplace
- Time management
- Hygiene and routine
- Understanding and meeting expectations
- Workplace boundaries
“These are skills that honestly everyone could benefit from,” said Stein.
In addition to training the prospective employee, The Friendship Circle takes time to prepare the employer to take on staff that may need help or extra attention.
“When a trainee graduates, we write a reference letter that honestly outlines strengths and challenges,” said Stein. “For example, we might explain that someone needs extra time to learn certain tasks, but once learned, they become highly independent. That transparency actually reduces risk for employers and leads to longer-term success rather than short-term placements that don’t work out.”
The training program has found success with placements throughout the Milwaukee area with large and small employers.
“We’ve placed people in offices, non-profits, retail, food service and even tech,” said Stein.
Beyond workforce training, Stein is proud of the services The Friendship Circle offers to employers and other organizations pertaining to suicide prevention.
“Suicide remains a leading cause of death among young people, and workplaces are increasingly recognizing the importance of addressing mental health,” he said. “This work has opened doors and built relationships across Milwaukee’s business community.”
For more about the important work The Friendship Circle is doing, visit their website.
