The sweet smell of fresh-baked goods regularly fills Grandma Emma’s Bakery in Maplewood, and in recent weeks, it’s been accompanied by the chatter of participants from The Arc of Essex County’s Opportunity Zone Day Program. Six women in the OZ Jobs Club have spent a few hours every Wednesday building valuable job skills as part of a six-week hands-on training program.

Under the guidance of bakery owner Eric Dawson and Arc staff, participants have learned how to create a variety of treats from scratch, including cookies, sweet potato pies, and cinnamon rolls. Eric walks them through each step of the process: for the cinnamon rolls, he showed them how to roll the dough, brush it with butter, sprinkle cinnamon and apples, slice it into strips, and carefully shape each roll before baking. Clad in hairnets, gloves, and aprons, the group works side by side with Eric, gaining new skills and building confidence during each visit.

For Eric, the partnership is deeply personal. He founded Grandma Emma’s Bakery in honor of his grandmother after undergoing intense cancer treatments, during which her cobbler recipe brought him comfort and healing. Today, he channels that same sense of care into creating an inclusive space for learning and growth. “It’s my mission and my passion to give back,” he says. “I’m working to get the word out that businesses should lean into supporting the disability community in a very deliberate way. It’s fulfilling to both sides, me and them.”

The experience has been impactful for the club participants, who eagerly share their favorite parts of the day: rolling dough, sprinkling ingredients, and, of course, tasting the finished products.  And Eric is already looking ahead to expanding these opportunities. He plans to collaborate with The Arc’s Entrepreneurship Club by showcasing and selling handcrafted items made at Studio Arc, as well as to include Arc participants when tabling at local farmer’s markets and Maplewood’s Mayfest, among other ideas. “Sometimes we move so fast through life, we have to take the time to slow down and recalibrate our thinking into something bigger,” he says. “I’m always looking out for an opportunity to make that kind of positive connection, to do something more meaningful.”

Once the OZ participants finish up their six-week session, the West Caldwell Hub Day Program’s Jobs Club will start their training series at Grandma Emma’s. Whether learning to roll napkins at a restaurant, make beds at a hotel, or sprinkle cinnamon at a bakery, Jobs Club participants are each learning new skills, building confidence, and learning about new employment options in the community.

Do you have a loved one interested in attending The Arc of Essex County’s Adult Day Services?  Click here to learn more about our programs, and reach out to The Arc of Essex County’s Director of Day Services, Traditional Programming Kristina Olszewski to learn how you can enroll: kolszewski@arcessex.org or (973) 535-1181 ext. 1295.