In the summer of 2021, when the Trumbull Public Schools needed a new hub for the district’s ELITE program, which provides life skill and employment preparation training for students with developmental disabilities, those involved looked to create a student-run business which would make a meaningful contribution to the community. With the TPS core values of inclusivity and the development of a lifelong love of literacy in mind, a bookstore cafe and “meet up” spot seemed like just the right fit.
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A State grant for special education students impacted by the pandemic, generous corporate and family scholarship funds, and community contributions of items from an Amazon Wishlist beautifully outfitted the store space in Trumbull Center, with zero impact on the district’s school budget. While Trumbull’s ELITE students continue to work at over 20 other sites in Trumbull and surrounding communities, such as Fairfield University and the Beardsley Zoo, as they look to improve their employability skills, NCB now serves as a hub for students to further grow and practice these skills, to the great benefit of the Trumbull community.
