As we welcome the new year, we are happy to look back at all the successes we achieved in 2025. From scholarships and job placements to releasing our first team-created cookbook, there is so much to be grateful for over the past 12 months! 2025 culminated in December with our five-year anniversary, a momentous occasion that we were thrilled to celebrate with all of you.
As we reflect on 2025, we are more excited than ever about what awaits us in 2026. We can't wait to share new projects, new programs and some exciting new developments with you soon. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the Esteamed Express!
As 2025 comes to a close, we are so grateful for another year of growth, connection, and the incredible people who make our work possible. From our team members and volunteers to the artists, guests, and community members we serve, it has been a year full of milestones and meaningful moments.
This year at Esteamed Coffee and through our programs, we were able to support:
16 cafe employees who bring skill, care, and heart to everything they do
30+ volunteers who generously gave their time to help our community thrive
19 artists participating in our markets and Local Art program
56,530 drinks shared with guests
28 social events connecting adults with disabilities and building community
We also want to celebrate some of the personal achievements of our team members:
Molly started her studies at NC State
Michael left Esteamed Coffee to become a Pharmacy Technician
Austin climbed Mt. LeConte, one of the tallest peaks in the Smoky Mountains
Chandler, TreAina, Ryan and Serenity all received Masters pins
Alissa starred in Inclusive Arts' inaugural production of Grease
Serenity was promoted to Floor Supervisor
Beyond these highlights, we are proud of so much more from 2025. We awarded our first ever Full Steam Ahead Scholarship to Jason Clinard Roth, who is pursuing a film degree to elevate autistic voices in cinema. Our cafe earned several local awards, reached the #1 cafe spot in Cary on TripAdvisor, and was named one of the Top 100 Coffee Shops in the country by Yelp. We celebrated our inclusive picture book, Stella Finds Her Place, with a series of story time events, marking Stella’s “birthday” on the one-year anniversary of the book’s launch in October. Thanks to Cary Digital Design, we launched a new, more inclusive website. Our cafe team also created their first-ever cookbook, Cook-ability, which has already sold 80 copies. Finally, we celebrated five years of incredible support and growth on December 17th, our wooden anniversary. Each of these accomplishments reflects the dedication and care of our team and community, and the meaningful impact that inclusion, creativity, and connection can have.
Thank you to everyone who shared this year with us, from our employees and volunteers to our artists, guests, and funders. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings, and we are excited to continue building a welcoming, empowering, and joyful community together.
We are excited to share one of our favorite new monthly programs with you, our American Sign Language (ASL) Club! This monthly group is designed for adults with disabilities who are interested in learning and practicing American Sign Language. The club is led by an instructor and welcomes all levels of signing. Each session also includes learning about Deaf culture, helping participants build both language skills and cultural understanding in a supportive, encouraging environment.
Our next ASL Club meeting will take place on January 20th. ASL Club meetings are free, thanks to the generous support of the Louise R. Lester Foundation, and each session includes a complimentary drink and snack.
We are also looking forward to a special ASL Social on January 24th. This event is open to everyone, including people with and without disabilities, and all levels of signing are welcome. The ASL Social will be a relaxed, inclusive space to practice signing, meet new people, and enjoy time together using ASL.
Whether you attend ASL Club regularly or are simply curious to join us for the social, we would love to have you be part of this welcoming and inclusive experience.
We are so proud to celebrate barista Alissa, who recently starred as Sandy in Grease through Theatre Raleigh’s new Inclusive Arts program! This program gives adults with disabilities the opportunity to perform on stage and be part of the drama community, and for us, Alissa's performance was a highlight of the production.
Her journey to the stage was supported by Esteamed Coffee, where she has grown in confidence, teamwork, and communication through her daily interactions with guests and coworkers. The skills and self-assurance she built at work translated beautifully to performing on stage, allowing her to shine in a leading role.
Attending the production in December was a moving experience. Seeing her, along with numerous other volunteers and attendees from our programs, perform on stage was a joyful celebration of talent, community, and inclusion.
The Inclusive Arts program continues in the spring with their second production, Peter Pan. We can't wait to see what Alissa and her fellow performers will accomplish next! Stories like Alissa's remind us why we do this work - helping adults with disabilities build confidence, explore their talents, and thrive in the workplace and beyond.
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