In Texas, up to 95% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed and often with that, comes isolation. At The BEE Community, we are reversing this unemployment and isolation crisis by creating meaningful work and a place of belonging. We want everyone- regardless of ability and capacity- to experience the dignity and purpose that comes from employment. We believe everyone that has a pulse has a purpose and a divine design to work and contribute. As a society we are missing out without having all people utilizing their gifts for the good of our community. BEE launched our work program in the Fall of 2018 creating jobs for 7 individuals, known as artisans. The word artisans means a "craftsperson" or "a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand". We wanted to create a workplace where the supports that each person needs to be able to meaningfully access work would never be taken away, creating a long-term, hope-filled solution to this unemployment crisis. BEE artisans work Monday- Thursday in our work program crafting quality products that "wow the world" with the gifts and abilities they have. At BEE, we say "no pity purchases!". We never want anyone to buy our products out of pity for who made it but rather because it's an excellent product. Our artisans, when given the opportunity, are changing the way the world sees people-- seeing walls come down between people with and without disabilities entering into mutually beneficial, authentic relationships. BEE now employs 23 artisans all with a wide-array of diagnoses, gifts, and abilities! When we onboard someone, we see it as a long-term commitment, and we need to scale resources to be able to sustain the addition of new artisans over time. We currently have many people in our waiting pool eager to be onboarded. We are seeking funds to be able to sustain the addition of more artisans to our workforce AND expand our enterprise offerings.