SPOTLIGHT on SUCCESS
A SWEET Success Story: Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates
By Sharon Fuentes and Photos by Conner Cummings
It’s hard to pinpoint just what makes Cameron’s
Coffee and Chocolates so inviting. It might be
the vibrant burst of colors on the walls or maybe
the enticing display case of goodies just begging to be tried. Perhaps it’s the smell of freshly
brewed lattes or the warm, friendly “Welcome
to Cameron’s!” greeting you receive as you walk
through the front doors. Whatever it is, once you
have been to this unique bakery, you will most
definitely go back!
Jim and Ellen Graham wanted what most loving
parents want—for their child to be happy! Their autistic daughter Cameron had
a job at a local grocery store helping with
the self-checkout lines, but when break
time came, Cameron felt left out, alone.
The Grahams knew that their daughter,
who had aged out of the school system,
needed more. She needed a sense of community,
she needed to learn life skills, she needed to feel
as if what she did mattered, and most of all, she
needed a safe place in which to do it all. Cameron, who had graduated from a two-year catering
Cameron, who had graduated from a two-year catering
program at a transitioning training center loved to bake, so
the Grahams set out to see how they could turn her passion
into a full-time job!
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program at a transitioning training center, loved
to bake, so the Grahams set out to see how they
could turn her passion into a full-time job!
What began as a personal mission to offer Cameron meaningful employment quickly grew into a
successful small business and non-profit focused
on offering individuals with autism or intellectual disabilities an opportunity to master their own
culinary skills, interact with the public and earn a
paycheck while doing it!
On the day we visited the shop, while
I sipped my vanilla mocha latte and
nibbled on my pumpkin muffin with
chocolate ganache, I could not help but
smile as friendly employees approached
our table to see how we were enjoying
our treats. This is not just a job for these
individuals; it is being a part of something and
taking pride in their product. And let me be the
first to tell you that they have reason to be proud
because that muffin was good! That is precisely
why Cameron’s is doing so well. While people
may originally come to support a wonderful
cause, they keep coming back because the chocolates and other products are made with the best
ingredients and taste incredible! No need to feel
guilty about eating these chocolates!
The Grahams want to encourage more businesses
like Cameron’s, where the employees are not just
shadowing but actually working. “It is a lot of
work, but when you are helping your child follow their passion, well, you don’t mind spending
the time and energy it takes to make it happen.”
says Ellen. She also offered the following advice
to other parents, “Start small; no one says you
have to be grand. Reach out to your community
and don’t be afraid to take a chance.” For more
information on Cameron’s Coffee and Chocolates
and Every 1 Can Work, the nonprofit started by
the Grahams, visit their website.