A welcoming, full-service café and hands-on learning environment where adults with Down syndrome gain valuable job skills and real-world experience. The Studio Cafe provides opportunities to build confidence, develop independence, and serve the community through meaningful work.
Through GiGi Professionals, participants create gifts from the heart, including personalized mugs featuring artwork and photos, your design or ours, you choose!
Graduates of GiGi University are involved in every aspect of the business, including:
• Artwork and graphic design
• Mug production and customization
• Packaging and fulfillment
• Customer service
• Community outreach
• Sales and marketing
• Food service
• Barista training and beverage preparation
Every donation supports opportunities for adults with Down syndrome to learn, grow, and thrive.
For more information, please email [email protected] or call 480-451-7529.
Featuring
Hanzoku Coffee Company
- Locally Roasted in Chandler, AZ
- Crafted from 100% Organic Beans
- Proud to support Woman-owned plantations
- Single-Sourced; Individuality and Richness
About Studio Cafe:
GiGi University graduates receive a certificate of achievement, a personalized resume highlighting their unique skills and abilities. Graduates then able to move on to, “Studio Cafe”.
The “Studio Cafe” Career Training Program is a café shop run by adult mentors with Down syndrome and program support staff. The career training program places GiGi University graduates as “interns” at the Studio Cafe, which sells specialty coffee, as well as personalized gifts including water bottles, tote bags, travel mugs, and more.
Interns are coached by mentors – other young adults with Down syndrome can excel in their internship into employment opportunities beyond the program. The Studio Cafe is open 3 days a week. Interns learn customer service skills (taking and filling orders at the counter); sales skills (using the cash register machines, making change, and issuing receipts); food & beverage service skills (preparing and serving coffee, espresso and other specialty drinks), logistics and fulfillment skills (order packaging and shipping), and more.