CEO toured Heart & Flour :Equal Kneads Bakery this week. They generously agreed to host the class even though the bakery's expansion project was not quite complete. (One of the first things owner Kelly Jo said about Heart and Flour: "We pivot. A lot.")

Heart and Flour is a teaching bakery that was born of a desire to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Since its launch last year, Heart and Flour has become an opportunity for employment for young adults who have aged out of school as well as a training location for area high school students.

Heart and Flour partners with The Together Table Foundation (also founded by Kelly Jo) to provide what each person needs to work in the bakery. If an employee needs an accommodation such as a alternate table height, an adaptive tool, etc. the bakery can create an environment for success.

Kelly Jo emphasized the importance of developing your network, building community, and being teachable. "As long as you're teachable, you're golden." She also gave the students a look into the practical aspects of running the bakery as she discussed production, inventory, and COGS (cost of goods sold).

Even as we stood in the not-yet-finished portion of the store front, she showed us her dream for further expansion. She would love to have the entire building to provide even more places for community gathering and employment opportunities. She didn't think the bakery would launch as quickly as it did this past year, and couldn't believe it when it was already outgrowing the space. So she's not ruling out any possibilities when thinking about what may come next!

Thank you to Kelly Jo and assistant Kathy Watkins (and crew) for hosting us for the morning. (And congrats on your expansion!)