Jody Powers, founder of the nonprofit Amelia’s Closet, is starting a new venture that will create a workforce pipeline for employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and employees with other employment barriers.

Liberty’s Station sits inside a 75,000 square foot multipurpose venue, which will feature a coffee house and bakery, along with merchandise and event rental space. It is located at 850 NW Broad St., behind Toot’s restaurant in Murfreesboro.

“We are hoping to open Liberty’s Station at the end of September or early October with stage one,” Powers said. “As soon as we open, we will start serving our grilled cheese out of the food truck that was donated by the Demos’.

“Who doesn’t love grilled cheese? We will also have soup and salad.”

Powers said people have started to call about renting the cafe area and the garage space for events and meetings, and she is looking forward to making that space available.

Partnering with Liberty’s Station is the nonprofit The Sweet Addiction, operated by Robin Housch.

The Sweet Addiction will provide desserts at the bakery at Liberty’s Station.

“Liberty’s Station will be selling our goodies in their cafe,” Housch said. “We will have proprietary pies and cakes, and our fried pies that you can only get at Liberty’s Station or online.

“We have taken every pie Grandma ever made at the holidays, and we put it in a cupcake form. We call it ‘The Sweet Addiction’ because when people taste them, honestly, they get addicted.”

The Sweet Addiction will also help train some of Liberty’s Station’s interns.

“They will also be training our interns in the bakery field in a kitchen area at Liberty’s Station,” Powers said. “We will open the different employment fields in phases as we have a volunteer skilled staff in place, and funding for each phase. The food truck, bakery and space rental will be phase one. Then we will add retail where our paid interns can make things to sell here, and hopefully this will encourage them to open their own businesses on Etsy or otherwise. We will add other phases as we go along—we have a lot of ideas.”

Powers said Liberty’s Station is under the umbrella of Amelia’s Closet, the local organization that helps women transitioning from hardship to the workforce.

“We are merging with that so anyone with employment obstacles can apply to intern at Liberty’s Station,” Powers said. “The time people spend at Liberty’s Station may vary; some may take less time and some may take more. But each will have a team behind them of job coaches, occupational therapists, residency students, social workers, special education teachers and so on—different people who can volunteer and help train, access and place our individuals in long-term employment in the community.”

Those interested in interning need to have a referral and fill out an online application to apply. The program is for individuals who have a potential for success in the program.

“We will be investing a lot of time and money into each intern,” Powers said.

Liberty’s Station will intern people with all kinds of employment barriers like adults with disabilities, people recently incarcerated, veterans having a hard time adjusting to civilian life and foster teens who have graduated from high school and just need the extra help to build their résumé and get training, and help teach them how to be good employees.

Liberty’s Station will initially offer food service and hospitality training, then add baker training and baristas for the coffee shop area as well as custodial and secretarial training.

They also hope to teach car detailing in the very back of the garage area of the building.

Powers said they will have adaptive training for people to learn according to their skill level and ability. Liberty’s Station also offers adaptive uniforms, and aprons that Powers designed, which fit over the head without ties or Velcro.

She said they are trying to make the whole facility user-friendly for their interns and customers, which includes widening doors and making other changes to the building.

“We focus on people believing in themselves and giving back,” Housch said. “That’s what this is all about.”

– Liberty’s Station is a progressive workforce pipeline where 90 percent of the employees have intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities or other employment barriers. Employees are assessed, trained and gain work experience to help them confidently acquire long-term employment. For information or to volunteer, call 615-584-9029 or visit libertysstationtn.org.

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Amelia’s Closet provides professional apparel and hope to women who are re-entering the workforce by providing interview outfits, tips, makeovers and wardrobes. They provide a safe environment for adults experiencing employment obstacles to learn skills and gain experience for long-term employment. For information, to shop or to volunteer, call 615-584-9029 or visit ameliascloset.org.

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The Sweet Addiction works with local agencies to employ women who have been incarcerated, have been victims of human trafficking or victims of domestic violence. Some of these women may also be considered by many employers as “not employable” due to their backgrounds. The Sweet Addiction accepts financial donations on its website to purchase coats, hats, scarves, long underwear, sweaters, heaters, propane, blankets, bedding and food. Donations of fabric, elastic and thread are needed. And, volunteer seamstresses are needed. For assistance, information or to volunteer, call 615-580-8001, email info@thesweetaddiction.com and visit thesweetaddiction.com.