Up to 1 in 4 US adults experience mental illness, making it tough on jobs and careers.

A chance to learn new skills can increase confidence, self-esteem, purpose, connection with others, and improve overall mental health. Here’s 5 small businesses giving people that chance!

1. Tall Rabbit Café • Fort Wayne, IN

This vintage, rustic throwback coffee shop will give a chance to anyone with a barrier who is striving to earn gainful employment. If they have a “lack of education or certification, a criminal background, lack of a home, or is not able-bodied but in all of these barriers, highly motivated“, Tall Rabbit is here to help them!

2. Mayfair • Scottsdale, AZ

Mayfair is a global lifestyle brand that creates apparel with feel-good content and uplifting messages. In partnership with MyWellbeing, they also provide a free virtual Mental Health Group Session every month for anyone looking for help, hosted by a trained therapist offering tips and tools for mental health care and support!

3. Part & Parcel • Durham, NC

Eco-friendly package-free Part & Parcel sells bulk grocery, home cleaning supplies, personal care products, and more. It’s run by non-profit CANDOR (Chronically-ill, Autistic, Neuro-Eclectic, Disabled Organization for Reclamation), intentionally set up as a neuro-inclusive and affirming workplace that welcomes employees to bring their full identities to work!

4. Aspire Accessories • Houston, TX

With over 200 products and accessories made by artisans with autism and similar special needs, this program from The HUB Houston non-profit teaches and provides jobs to high schoolers and young adults, helping to prepare them for other life opportunities when they age out of school-based environments!

5. Café Gozhóó • Whiteriver, AZ

Café Gozhóó is “an Apache response to our community need for quality food options, a fueling station on the north end of Whiteriver and to promote/reinforce social recovery in a community space“.  Not only a place for Indigenous food, they work with the Rainbow Treatment Center to provide training and jobs to people recovering from substance abuse!

Know of any more like these? Suggest them to us to get listed!