Circle of Friends at Flourish Café

A Place to Gather and Grow

HOURS:

Tuesday - Saturday

7:00AM - 2:30PM

770-224-9891

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Circle of Friends is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Flourish Café, a unique community space dedicated to fostering connections and providing supportive employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on August 16th at 10 AM. The Grand Opening weekend will be on August 16th and 17th from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM at 2864 E Cherokee Dr F, Canton, GA 30115.

Circle of Friends is grateful for the American Rescue Plan Act, awarded by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, the County Manager, and the U.S. Department of Treasury. This grant provides funds for the necessary equipment needed to open Flourish Café.

Circle of Friends also extends heartfelt thanks to the incredible volunteers who have dedicated countless hours to create this space and to the many individuals who have generously donated to the completion of Flourish Café. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.

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Our Goals

Flourish Café will be a site of supportive employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It will be a place for community members to enjoy a coffee and a meal while our friends are able to socialize and learn new skills.

Circle of Friends’ three mission strands of socialization, supportive employment, and supportive attainable housing are interwoven and address multiple health-related social needs of a vulnerable population in Cherokee County.

Flourish Café will contribute to all three strands:

  • Socialization

  • Supportive Employment

  • Community Development

Flourish Café is…

  • Flourish Café will be a dedicated space that will enable the social strand to grow without restrictions related to using other organizations’ spaces. Flourish Café will encourage gatherings for games, group activities, and educational opportunities.

  • This move further emboldens our message of inclusivity and supportive employment within Cherokee County for those in our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The increase in supportive employment opportunities for adults with IDD addresses a Community Development National Objective to expand employment to Low- and Moderate-Income Persons (LMI) in the limited clientele activities (handicapped persons and/or illiterate persons) category.

  • Through these social and employment opportunities, future residents of the supportive attainable neighborhood will preemptively establish their community.

Flourish Café will enable us to expand our social programming, supportive employment efforts, and community development aimed at mitigating the prevalent isolation experienced among this demographic of adults, fostering further growth and connection within the community.

Thank You!

A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible individuals who have generously contributed their time, resources, and finances to support Flourish Café. Your unwavering dedication and support have been instrumental in making this dream a reality. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and generosity.

Additionally, Circle of Friends extends its gratitude to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, the County Manager, and the U.S. Department of Treasury for the invaluable support provided through the American Rescue Plan Act grant. This grant is playing a pivotal role in furnishing Flourish Café and providing essential equipment, allowing us to create a welcoming space where our community can gather, connect, and flourish together.

Thank you for your belief in our mission and your commitment to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.