Story by: Xavier Ford 

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop stands as a symbol and beacon of hope and progress for inclusivity and diversity. In 2016, Amy and Ben Wright founded Bitty & Beau’s, inspired by their two youngest children, Bitty and Beau, who both have Down syndrome. This foundation of love gave rise to a groundbreaking mission to give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities meaningful work opportunities. 

Eight years later, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop has become a nationwide sensation. Jacksonville has become home to one such cafe. Located in San Marco, the cafe is hard to miss. The Jacksonville location opened its doors in 2021, and many of its original staff still work there today.  

Maddie and Alexis, who both have disabilities, work at the Jacksonville location. Their passion and commitment are evident when they talk about their experiences working at Bitty & Beau’s. Even though the pair had to overcome social obstacles, they are thankful for the chance to show off their skills and make a valuable contribution to the team.  

Alexis and Maddie are two critical parts of Bitty and Beau’s success. Still, there are people like Natalie “Coach” Bryan, an employee with over 20 years of experience as a physical education teacher with students with disabilities. Even though she does not have a disability, she embodies the spirit of Bitty and Beau by fostering an inclusive workplace culture and advocating for the abilities of her coworkers.  

“There is something for everyone. We help everyone in any area that needs we can find what works best for them,” said Bryan. 

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop is changing lives, disrupting social conventions, and creating prospects for a more inclusive future by providing meaningful employment options for people with disabilities. As the fight toward equality and acceptance continues, let Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop inspire us and support their mission of sharing love, one cup at a time.

Story by: Emily Regalado 

After years of waiting, the Jacksonville International Airport is expanding. The expansion project includes adding a third concourse with six new gates and has been planned since before the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“In our master plan, it has always called for a third concourse,” said Greg Willis, the Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Jacksonville Airport. As of now, there are Concourse A and Concourse C; the plan is to build Concourse B in between the two.  

Airport officials estimate the project budget to range from 310 to 315 million dollars, and officials expect to break ground this year. Before the groundbreaking, the two companies working on this million-dollar project, Jacksonville Aviation Authority and Jacobs Engineering, must finalize their plans. Willis expects to finalize these plans soon.  

When asked how Jacksonville residents feel about the airport expansion project, many said that they are in support of the expansion, saying that it will boost their economy by making Jacksonville a larger travel market. Some also said that it would make their travel experience out of the Jacksonville airport timelier.  

Others, however, were hesitant about the expansion, claiming that they personally feel that the airport is fine the size that it is and that it is not worth the cost it would put on the environment.  

Either way, the airport is expanding, and it will lead to a larger Jacksonville community, influence tourism, and allow for more flights to occur. If you are interested in learning more about Jacksonville International Airport, head over to their website, http://www.flyjacksonville.com. 

Story by Malorie Aldrich 

Arts markets, they are the place you go when you are looking for a one-of-a-kind piece. Jacksonville has their own local market in Riverside called the Riverside Arts Market or locally known as the RAM. 

RAM has been around for about 15 years and with each year that passes the market grows larger. For example, some of the types of vendors range from artists to food trucks, to flowers, etc. RAM occurs every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain, or shine, under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge. 

“We’ve had some incredible success stories here where we have food makers that come into the market for three or four years and then end up getting a great contract with either Whole Foods or another market to have their product in retail grocery stores,” said Market Director John Silveira. 

With the riverside arts market’s mission of preserving riverside’s history, promoting local business, advocating for the neighborhood, and celebrating the community, RAM has helped many of Jacksonville’s small businesses achieve success in the river city.  To find more information on the Riverside Arts Market you can visit their website here.