The Heartwarming Mission of Esteamed Coffee: An Interview with Julie Walker

In this episode, we explore Esteamed Coffee, a unique coffee shop in Cary situated in a quaint 1940s cottage on Academy Street. Known for its mission to provide meaningful employment and social opportunities to adults with intellectual, developmental, and visual disabilities, the shop has become an integral part of the community. The host interviews Executive Director Julie Walker, discussing the shop's origins, its evolution since 2020, and the impactful lives of its employees. They also touch upon future expansion plans and community involvement opportunities. Julie shares inspiring stories of employee success and the invaluable support they receive from the local community.

00:00 Introduction to Esteamed Coffee
01:22 Meet Julie Walker, Executive Director
01:47 The Mission and Founding Story
03:45 Julie Walker's Journey to Esteemed
04:32 Day-to-Day Operations and Responsibilities
05:49 Hiring Process and Employee Retention
08:21 Employee Success Stories
09:57 Molly Minnick and the Elevate Program
21:25 Future Plans and Expansion
24:32 How to Get Involved and Volunteer
26:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Creators and Guests

Host

Melissa

Host of What's Up, Wake + social media manager + writer + travel editor

What is What’s Up, Wake?

What’s Up, Wake covers the people, places, restaurants, and events of Wake County, North Carolina. Through conversations with local personalities from business owners to town staff and influencers to volunteers, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Wake County an outstanding place to live. Presented by Cherokee Media Group, the publishers of local lifestyle magazines Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad, What’s Up, Wake covers news and happenings in Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and Wake Forest.

34 - What's Up Wake - Esteamed Coffee
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[00:00:00]

Melissa: If you're like me and coffee is part of your daily grind, you'll hopefully have visited one of my favorite coffee shops situated in the heart of Carey in a picture perfect 1940s cottage on Academy Street. This spot offers everything you'd expect in a typical Java joint.

But add an extra splash of smiles, a sprinkle of joy, [00:01:00] and the sense of starting your day off, contributing to goodness with a mission to bring meaningful jobs to adults with intellectual, developmental, and or visual disabilities. Needless to say, it's an esteemed part of our community. I've had my guest on my wishlist for quite a while, but it's better latte than never.

Please welcome executive Director of Esteemed Coffee, Julie Walker. Hi Julie. Hi. Thank you so much for coming today. It really is one of my favorite coffee shops. I think it's a lot of people's favorite coffee shop. You guys are always busy, so that's a good sign. I came across a Yelp review of esteemed when I was doing my research for this, and it read Great Coffee with a Special Mission.

What is your mission and how did it come to be?

Julie Walker: we absolutely have great coffee and so much more than that. Just like the review said. So, our mission is to provide both [00:02:00] employment opportunities as well as social opportunities for adults with disabilities in our community, in a nutshell. And our mission really came about because of two amazing women who founded our organization, Angie and Tamara.

So Angie and Tamara were friends in college. Angie began losing her vision when she was in school and after school, really struggled to find meaningful work. And Tamara, one of her friends, was working as a speech language pathologist and had a dear friend whose son had a stroke and was regaining his ability to speak.

The two of them together were inspired by similar models and decided that they really wanted to bring opportunities to the Carey Neighborhood for adults with disabilities.

Melissa: And are they still involved

Julie Walker: in the coffee

Melissa: shop?

Julie Walker: Nowadays they are, yeah. They work both as advisors to me. I'm their first executive director as well as members of the board.

And they serve on various committees as well. So they're still [00:03:00] very involved, um, with the organization and it's really a big part, you know, of their hearts. How long ago was this?

Melissa: That, that it started 2018?

Julie Walker: Yes, so we started the coffee shop. It opened in December of 2020.

Melissa: But

Julie Walker: Angie and Tamara really started the gears turning in 2017.

That was when they started studying business. Neither of them had a background in business or you know, cafe operations, but they took some classes at wake Tech and then started working on fundraising. They got their 5 0 1 C3 in 2018 and then spent the next couple of years really. Hiring and learning and developing and planning the coffee shop to open in 2020.

And how did you become involved? With esteemed. Sure. So I joined actually as of today, two years ago, um, as of the recording of the podcast, and I had a background in various different fields. So I was [00:04:00] a nonprofit program manager. I worked in a food and beverage company. So bringing those together was what brought me to esteemed.

I really was looking to get back into nonprofit work. Um, I really was hoping to serve. Underestimated populations. I'll say. I had a background in working with immigrants and refugees in my nonprofit work in the past, and so finding a way to be involved in my local community and make a difference and find an organization that was as inclusive as esteemed was what I

Melissa: wanted.

So what does your day-to-day look like as an executive director of a 5 0 1 C3?

Julie Walker: There are so many things, and I think something that makes this position unique is that it's not just 5 0 1 C3, there's also a business component to it. Yeah, that's very true. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So there's a lot that goes into it.

Um, I get the privilege of managing our supervisors. Beyond that, I get to work in fundraising and development. I get to build [00:05:00] partnerships in the community. I get to work on our marketing and do all of our social media. So I really get to kind of put myself out there and share our mission and support our staff and do whatever I can to build out our programming and find support for that as well.

Melissa: I recently interviewed Gabby from Gabby's Grounds. I'm not sure if you have met Gabby before. I have, yeah. Gabby's Grounds and Gabby's Pals, I should say. Mm-hmm. Which is an organization that also hires people with disabilities. She and her mother told us about how. They have such a long wait list for potential employees because the need is so great.

It seems to me like there are more people than places with, you know, availabilities for people to work. What is your hiring process like, and do you have a wait list like Gabby's pals? That's a great

Julie Walker: question. We are blessed to have a very high retention rate from an [00:06:00] employment perspective. Yeah. Yeah.

Melissa: Because I see the same people Yes. When I go, so I assume that, you know, you get in there and it's, you, you, you don't have a lot of turnover.

Julie Walker: Right. So about half of our staff has been with us since the beginning for almost five years. Um, our staff with disabilities, and then the other half we've brought on over time.

We absolutely have a waiting list. There are, you know, so many people that want to work and that can work. And because of our capacity, we're not able to hire them at the moment. Mm-hmm. We do have other opportunities. We provide volunteer opportunities for adults with disabilities to get involved at the cafe and have, you know, jobs skill, building experience.

Um, we have social events for adults with disabilities to come together and socialize independently. But as far as the hiring process goes, we, when a, when a position opens up, we will typically have the applicant come in, meet with our operations director, meet with our staff, and do really an on-the-job interview.

So we take [00:07:00] them behind the counter, we have them learn how to make a latte and show us that they're able to do that or able to take direction. Um, and our operations director really looks to see if it's, it's somebody that we can. Help to develop. Um, and that has that potential. So that's really what the hiring process is like.

And something that is important to us is finding more opportunities, whether that's with us or by building partnerships with outside employers, which is something that we're starting to do more of. That's great

Melissa: because there is such a need. What would you say are some unique strengths of the employees at Esteemed Coffee?

Julie Walker: So the strengths of our employees are things that I think any organization would look for. Mm-hmm. They come to work on time, they have such positive attitudes. The best customer service you could possibly want. Absolutely. Yes. Um, attention to detail. They really want to do everything right. Mm-hmm. And they'll [00:08:00] make sure that what they give you is the best possible product.

So I think it's things that any organization would want to replicate, and it's one thing that we advocate for when we talk with other employers. This is what you want in an employee, and this is the population that really can bring that to your table.

Melissa: What would you say are some ways that you have seen esteemed coffee impact the lives of the employees?

How, how do you, how do you see their lives change once they start working there?

Julie Walker: Their lives change in so many ways, and some ways might sound small, but they're huge. Mm-hmm. And other ways are actually very large. So we've had so many good stories. We've had employees who have flown, um, in an airplane for the first time by themselves after gaining confidence.

Mm-hmm. Or who start helping out more around the house and taking out the garbage. Just things like that, which might sound small, but to their families, it's a huge step. [00:09:00] Beyond that, we've had people who worked at ESTEEM to have gone on to other employment. One of our big success stories is our former floor our former floor supervisor, Michael.

So when he came to us, he really struggled to be in the same room with other employees. He had a lot of anxiety. And by the time that he was done working with us, he had become our floor supervisor. He was training his peers shoulder to shoulder behind the counter. Mm-hmm. He got his driver's license and he ended up going to Wake Tech to become a pharmacy technician.

Wow. And now he has moved to Chapel Hill and is working, um, as a pharmacy technic. That's incredible. Yes. So, I mean, sometimes we see somebody come in in one place and they soar. We see people, people come into the cafe and just start making these amazing changes, even just day to day, um, socially and with their skills.

So it's amazing.

Melissa: And speaking of success, I saw a [00:10:00] story in the news about one of your employees by the name of Molly Minnick. Um, she is now taking part of NC State's new Elevate program. She was among seven students selected for the program, which seeks to offer students with intellectual disabilities a chance to pursue higher education.

I think we don't realize, and I, I talked about this when I interviewed Gabby and her mom. I don't think we realized that once high school ends, people with disabilities have a really hard time transitioning quote into adulthood because there aren't very many job opportunities and it is very hard to get into a higher education situation.

So to see Molly's story, how does that make you guys feel?

Julie Walker: We are so proud of Molly. Mm-hmm. She was one of, if not the youngest employee that we hired when she started. Oh. We worked with her, you know, on so many of the skills that she's developed since she began with us and having [00:11:00] her accepted to elevate as one of the first students was huge.

She's so excited. She got and one of only seven. Yes. I was really surprised

Melissa: about that.

Julie Walker: Yes, absolutely. That's a

Melissa: big deal.

Julie Walker: It is. Mm-hmm. It's a huge deal and she's really excited to go to school. This is her second semester and she's living on campus now for the first time. Okay. Which is a big. Step. Yeah.

And she's hoping to learn more about working with children, maybe, as you know, in a daycare or a preschool. And I could absolutely see her doing that so well. The energy that she brings is so positive and so uplifting, so that would be

Melissa: amazing. Has she inspired other? Employees to, to apply for this program or other similar programs?

Julie Walker: Yes. So we have another employee who I know his family has talked with me about applying to the Elevate program in the future. Mm-hmm. So it's something that looks really exciting to them. And it's also this piece of going to school is something that. We've realized is a gap as well, and maybe there are some barriers to our community to do [00:12:00] that.

So we started something just this past year called the Full Steam Ahead Scholarship. I love a good pun. So the full Steam Ahead scholarship is for adults with disabilities. To go either to school, to take community classes to start their own business or to expand a business that they have. It's a thousand dollars scholarship.

Um, so we awarded our first full Steam Ahead scholarship this past year to Jason Lennard Roth. And he is going to the UNC School of the Arts for filmmaking to uplift autistic voices in cinema. Oh

Melissa: wow. That's wonderful. Yes.

Julie Walker: So it's amazing and we're really excited to continue that program.

Melissa: Yeah. You guys just keep on adding layers to the goodness you're putting out there.

Yes. I love that.

Julie Walker: Yes. A good layered

Melissa: latte. Yes. Oh, hey. Hey. I see what you did there. [00:13:00] [00:14:00] Okay, so I don't. Very often read annual reports. It's not really my thing, but I did skim through your last year's annual report, and there's part in it that says, we envision a world where adults with disabilities have access to meaningful work and social opportunities while being respected, represented, represented, and fully integrated in a local community.

What would you say is the biggest challenge that you guys face while trying to sustain this particular part of your mission? I

Julie Walker: think the biggest challenge is perception because we know from our experience that our employees can absolutely be a part of this mainstream society, that they have a lot to offer.

I think the biggest challenge is having other people see that [00:15:00] in them. And so one of the really important things that I think the Coffee Shop brings to this mission is that the wider community and the public can interact with our population and really see them in action. Get to know them as people and start to imagine them in other situations where maybe you wouldn't see them in the past.

Melissa: Mm-hmm. Have you seen. Or heard of any stories where quote, regular companies make this type of transformation that maybe they'll start hiring people with disabilities.

Julie Walker: Yes, absolutely. I think there is a lot more of that happening these days. Mm-hmm. Which is amazing to see. There are so many organizations in this area that are working on this employment piece along with us.

One of them is called Work Together, nc. They provide an employer training for employers who are hoping to onboard more people with disabilities. [00:16:00] So there's definitely that component of employers who are starting to see that this is a possibility for them and that. This is something that could really elevate their organizations in the same way.

Melissa: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I, I know that, um, when I spoke with Gabby and her mom, I think one of the, the biggest hurdles is for other companies to understand that these. Potential employees don't need to have their handheld every day. Mm-hmm. They don't need to have a, you know, a special babysitter with them all the time.

They're highly qualified and highly capable. Mm-hmm. They might just need some extra time to train mm-hmm. For the job. But then, like what you were saying with, with the, your former floor manager. Mm-hmm. Once you get 'em ready, they're off. Off to the races. Yes. Yes. So it's just getting over that hurdle of understanding that it might take a little bit more training, but they're fully capable of, of working [00:17:00] in a quote, regular environment.

Um, but they also bring in my opinion. The, the happiness and extra, you know, sparkle. Mm-hmm. Um, that's what I see in the employees at Esteem. They're, they're all very happy to be there. You don't always see that in a, any, you know, any other environment. So, um. I hope that people can keep that in mind.

Julie Walker: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

The employees at esteemed now are basically running the place, so Yeah. You know, when we started, our managers had to jump behind the counter maybe a bit more to walk them through mm-hmm. Some of the steps. Um, but once they got it, they got it. Yeah. And these days, when you go there, it's very rare that you'll see a manager behind the counter.

You'll see our employees helping each other stepping in training each other, and it's really incredible to see,

Melissa: and they seem to really take pride in each individual cup of coffee or product that they are serving too. Yeah. They're, they, they, they take their time and they're [00:18:00] very happy with what they're handing to the customers.

Yeah. So I love that too. Yeah, it's a

Julie Walker: pretty cup of coffee. Oh, thank you. Mm-hmm. And, and they want to improve too. Mm-hmm. And that's something that's really, you don't see everywhere. We have something called the master's program that we started recently where an employee can develop their skills in a certain area, whether that's as a cashier or as a hot barista.

And once they've mastered this number of skills, it's usually around 26 skills per position. We give them a certificate and a special pin. We just did two today, two pinning ceremonies today. Mm-hmm. Actually, and we take photos. And the pride that you see from these employees is amazing because they really do want to not just have a job, but.

Build, build a better job, you know, and, and become a better employee and 26 steps that's,

Melissa: that's, that's gotta take some time. Yes. And some effort. Yes. Yep. That's a lot of steps. I wouldn't, I, I, I don't know that I'd be able to go past 26 steps and, and in a [00:19:00] coffee shop, that's for sure. I, I have plain old black coffee generally anyway, so I guess I can, I can handle that.

, Esteemed has been. Given incredible praise and won countless awards, including our own Maggie Awards with Carrie Magazine for best local coffee shop. Why do you think this coffee shop in particular has resonated with so many customers?

Julie Walker: That's a really good question. I think it's everything that we've said.

It's the whole experience. The coffee is great. Mm-hmm. So that's an added bonus I think. But the experience that you have when you come into the coffee shop is unlike any other experience that you'll have in a cafe. The, the ability to speak with our employees and get to know them and for them to get to know you.

It's like cheers. You know, they know everyone's name. Mm-hmm. You come in and they greet you and they're happy to see you, and they make an amazing cup of coffee. And [00:20:00] we really pride ourselves on building community at the cafe with all of our guests.

Melissa: How do you guys measure success beyond the, the financial sustainability of running a nonprofit?

What does success look like to you? I

Julie Walker: think success for us is seeing our employees thrive, whether that is at the cafe or elsewhere. So when we have an employee like Michael or Molly, go on to do something incredible, that's a huge success. Mm-hmm. But it's also a really big success when we see somebody learn how to put a lid on a cup for the first time.

Hmm. So I think seeing those, um, seeing those even, you know, small successes mean a lot to us. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Melissa: And mean a lot to their parents and their family too. Yes. I can only imagine the pride that they feel. They to send their their children out and trust you [00:21:00] guys too. Mm-hmm. Because it takes a lot of trust on the other side of things for the families to send their kids off to work, even their adult kids off to work for the first time.

Julie Walker: Yeah. Yeah. I think that we've even opened parents' eyes. Mm-hmm. To the potential sometimes. Yeah, I bet. Yeah. I think, I think they see their adult child doing something that they maybe. Hadn't realized was possible. Mm-hmm. And so that's really big too.

Melissa: Do you see a future where esteemed coffee might go to other towns and expand in North Carolina at least?

Julie Walker: That's a question that we get asked a lot. Yeah. And it's, there's such a need. Yes. So I can imagine that

Melissa: it would be successful

Julie Walker: anywhere you guys go. Thank you. Yeah. I, I could see us doing that. The thing that is really special to us when we talk about expanding is the care community. It is a very inclusive community.

I like to call it inclusive carry. Mm-hmm. And it's something [00:22:00] that we talk about, you know, at the strategic planning level with the board. Um, is there a way that we can expand within, carry and show that this population can do more than coffee? So that's kind of one of those big picture plans that we have.

Can we build another type of business in Carry, continue to build up this inclusive carry idea and provide option of employment to adults with disabilities in the area. So where we to have a second location it might not be coffee. So that's kind of where we're at right now. Interesting. Okay. Yeah.

Melissa: Okay. I guess you can't give us any ideas what, what's floating around in your mind? I mean, we are,

Julie Walker: we are absolutely transparent when we can be. So with this idea, I think some of the front runners right now are some type of grocery store. Okay. In downtown Carey. Um, with all of the apartments coming in, there's [00:23:00] definitely a need for quick, wouldn't be a bad idea, quick loaf of bread or a quick gallon of milk.

Mm-hmm. Um, along with a smile. So that's one of the front runners We've talked about maybe a bookstore or a tea shop or something that doesn't currently exist, you know, in this downtown area. Um, if we could find the perfect space and we could find, you know, the perfect supporters, then we could make something like that happen.

Melissa: I bet you will not have a lack of supporters. You might be running out of space in downtown Perry. Yes, yes. But certainly not a lack of supporters and all the ideas that you just. Mention will all sound like. Duh. You know, that that would be perfect for a, a growing booming downtown like Carrie.

Julie Walker: Yeah. I will say we have been so fortunate to have the supporters that we do.

Mm-hmm. From individual donors to family foundations, to corporate sponsors, you know, to grants that we've received. Um, and even the guests that come in and tip and give us [00:24:00] a small donation with their coffee, um, we're so fortunate to have these supporters.

Melissa: Mm-hmm. So. What is your favorite thing on the menu?

Do you have a a, a go-to standing order? I have

Julie Walker: to say the esteemed latte. Well, that is always my answer. Yeah. Yes. Um, hot or iced. Mm-hmm. Very good.

Melissa: I haven't had the iced one yet, but I, I either go for just black coffee, but I always have that at home so when I go out, I want something.

A little fancy tree. Yes, yes. But I do like the lattes there. Tell us where we can learn more about esteemed and how we can be involved. I would love to know, can, can we volunteer as well? Um, and how to go about doing that, and also how can we donate.

Julie Walker: Sure. So you can find a lot of information on our website, which is esteemed coffee.com.

Esteemed spelled with ea. Mm-hmm. Like steam, so you can go to our website. Um, we're on Facebook and [00:25:00] Instagram and TikTok and LinkedIn. We try to have a, you know, a big presence wherever we can. So going there to find out more about what we're doing and to get those updates. We have a newsletter, an email newsletter that you can use as well and sign up for, um, and you can donate through the website.

Then when it comes to other ways to get involved, um, we absolutely do look for volunteers. We have one-off volunteer opportunities for our social events, for our game nights or our art nights that are a lot of fun. Um, and that can be really good for a small group. Then we have individual more ongoing volunteer opportunities for adults, both with and without disabilities.

We have something called the esteemed team. And the esteemed team program pairs an adult with disabilities alongside a guide without disabilities, and they serve in the cafe, and that's typically a few hours a week on a regular

Melissa: basis. Okay. Well, those, it all sounds like fun, act, fun opportunities. But what about the, um, the activities?

You mentioned the, the [00:26:00] one-off mm-hmm. Opportunities, the, you said game night. Mm-hmm. Are those often or are they once a month? How

Julie Walker: often do you do that? Sure. So, um, we started our social event program in 2022, and we had been doing two events. Per month. And we just this month added a third event per month.

They've been so successful and so popular. I our game nights, are they at the shop? They're at the cafe. Okay. On the evening hours when we're closed, um, for adults with disabilities to come together and socialize independently, we encourage them to be dropped off. They get to have the dignity of ordering their own drink.

Oh. And socializing with their peers. Mm-hmm. And playing games together. So we'll do a game night every month, and then we'll do a couple of other different events. So we've done movie nights and craft nights mm-hmm. And open mic nights. Um, so we always have two to three events per month. We're hoping to have three events next

Melissa: year, every month.

Nice. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for being with us today. Best of luck with everything that is, is in the works or [00:27:00] potentially in the works. We wish you the best of luck. Thank you so much. Thank you. And thank you so much for having me. Absolutely.