Raise Coffee:
Who We Are

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hanover County often discover the benefits of inclusive and integrated schools, and thoughtfully designed social, sports and artistic programming. School is their meaningful work and source of accomplishment.

 

But what happens when youth with disabilities age out of school and community-based programs? Unfortunately, in Virginia, a large percentage of these youth remain at home during the day while their same-aged peers leave for college or work.

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In Hanover County, there are few opportunities for vocational training, employment, and community engagement for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are preparing to transition out of high school.​ Research demonstrates that youth with disabilities who receive school-based work experience are more than twice as likely to have successful employment after high school, yet less than 25% get that experience. Section 113 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (2014), requires that pre-employment transition services, including work-based learning experiences, be made available to students with disabilities.

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Enter: Raise, Inc. Launched to change the statistics.

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Founded in 2016, Raise, Inc., began operations by sponsoring a program for special education classrooms at local schools so the classes could establish their own coffee cart businesses for work-based learning. Raise provides teachers with everything they need to run a coffee cart business; trains teachers, instructional assistants, and
students to operate equipment and fulfill drink orders for adults in their schools; and, replaces low inventory when schools require supplies. Generous financial support from the community allows Raise to provide all equipment and supplies at no cost to the classrooms.

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In 2019, through donations and grant funding from Hanover’s three Rotary Clubs, Raise expanded to Phase II of its business plan --  to begin operating a coffee trailer at area community events, affording students work-based learning experiences in a neighborhood setting, taking their learned skills from the classroom into the community.

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​Phase III of the original Raise business plan was the establishment of a stand-alone coffee shop. In June 2025, Raise, Inc., merged with The Arc of Hanover, to sustain the existing work-based learning opportunities and to partner to attain the long-term goal of having a coffee shop.

 

"As part of our long-range planning at The Arc of Hanover, we were very interested in having another employment-related opportunity – besides our Thrift Store – as part of our efforts to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive job skills and training,” says Diane Gallegos, Director of Program and Mission. “Not to mention the opportunities a coffee shop affords for social interaction, which is a huge need for our self-advocates. Inviting Raise to join in with us was a natural connection point, and now we can work toward meeting that goal together.”

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Raise now operates as a program within The Arc of Hanover. Raise Co-founders Melodie Fearnow-Kenney, PhD, and Greta Selden have joined the Board of Directors and serve as members on the Raise Board committee.

“We will continue to operate our school-based programs in the same way we have, only now, volunteers from The Arc of Hanover -- who may be students in school-based transition experiences or job-coached adult opportunities -- may grind the coffee, stamp the sleeves, and pull the orders,” says Fearnow-Kenney. “It’s truly moving in the direction of expanded opportunities for more and more students and adults with disabilities, and we are excited!”

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