At Living and Learning Enrichment Center, we believe meaningful employment is about more than having a job. It is about building confidence, developing independence, creating connections, and giving our members the opportunity to discover what they are capable of achieving.
Our flower subscription program is doing exactly that.
Recently, Local 4 News visited our Northville campus to highlight the incredible work our members are doing through our farm program. The story showcased how our members are gaining hands-on job experience while growing, harvesting, arranging, and delivering beautiful flowers throughout our community.
Building Real-World Job Skills
Each week, our members spend time in the garden learning how to care for and grow flowers. Their work doesn’t stop once the flowers are ready to harvest. Members help turn those flowers into beautiful bouquets, prepare orders, and make deliveries.
The flower subscription program provides members with an experience that mirrors a real workplace. They are learning how to take orders, assemble bouquets, handle money, stay organized, follow directions, work as a team, and meet expectations with the support of their job coaches.
For Jared, the routine and responsibility of working on the farm are especially meaningful.
“I like working here because it’s a good place to work.”
For Logan, staying busy and having a responsibility to contribute to the team is important.
“My main job is to help them carry them to main campus. It’s really important. I just don’t want to not be busy.”
These may seem like simple tasks, but they represent important steps toward greater independence and meaningful employment.
More Than Just Job Skills
Our Farm Education Coordinator, Alyssa Givas, shared with Local 4 that the impact of the program goes far beyond the skills members are learning.
“When they leave here with their job coach, they feel like they are going to work. It’s very impactful for them.”
Our members take their responsibilities seriously, and they are proud of the work they accomplish. Having a place where they can contribute, be productive, and see the results of their efforts helps build confidence that can carry into other areas of their lives.
The long-term goal is to help our members prepare for adulthood and greater independence. That means developing the valuable skills they need to navigate life, explore employment opportunities, connect with their community, and build a future that is meaningful to them.
Creating Community Connections
For John, who often works at our Farm Stand, the program provides another important opportunity: connecting with people in the community.
“I love that it gets me out and interactive with customers.”
Those interactions are an important reminder that inclusion works both ways. Our community gets to see our members for who they are, what they can accomplish, and the contributions they make.
As John said:
“They don’t focus on what we have. They focus on what we are.”
That message is at the heart of everything we do.
Thank You, Local 4 News!
We are incredibly grateful to Local 4 News for visiting Living and Learning and helping us share the story of our members, our Farm program, and the importance of meaningful employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities.
We are so proud of Jared, Logan, John, and every member who works hard each week to make our flower program a success. We are also incredibly thankful for our Farm team and job coaches who provide the guidance, encouragement, and support that make these opportunities possible.
Most importantly, we hope this story inspires our community to see the possibilities. When people are given the right opportunities, support, and encouragement, they can learn, grow, contribute, and thrive.
Come Support Our Members
One of the best ways our community can support this program is by visiting our Farm Stand and purchasing products grown and created by our members.
Living and Learning Enrichment Center Farm Stand
📍 801 Griswold St., Northville, MI 48167
🕙 Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Every purchase helps support hands-on learning and meaningful employment experiences for our members.
We are growing more than flowers. We are growing confidence, independence, skills, and possibilities. 🌻