Partner Spotlight: Not Your Average Joe

Red River Community Corps (RRCC) partners with community organizations to boost their “people power” and help them receive crucial funding. 

Not Your Average Joe (NYAJ) — a locally owned coffee shop with locations across Oklahoma — is an RRCC partner empowering students and adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. 

In this partner spotlight, we talk with the nonprofit’s Director of Marketing, Peyton Kapavik, to learn how RRCC makes an impact on their organization.  

What has your experience been like working with RRCC? 

Peyton: Very positive! The number one thing we always need is support. RRCC staff are incredible and it’s great to know they’re rooting for us and will help us achieve our goals.  

How has partnering with RRCC benefited NYAJ?

Peyton: There are so many ways the partnership has impacted us! A huge project RRCC assisted us with was turning our Homeland May location into a Training Center. One RRCC member wrote the curriculum, helped connect individuals with disabilities and get it up and running. We’re currently working with a group of employees who need more one-on-one support in the Training Center before we transition them to one of our busier locations. We couldn’t provide this level of service without RRCC.  

Additionally, RRCC has helped us further our mission of including people of all abilities, especially in realms where even we didn’t think it was possible. RRCC modeled what it means to serve alongside other organizations that want to make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities. 

How have RRCC members helped NYAJ fulfill its mission? 

Peyton: They have helped us build capacity for more inclusionary employment. We’ve been able to create new programs, refine existing systems for our employees with disabilities, finalize our training processes and much more. 

RRCC: Why would you recommend other organizations partner with RRCC? 

Peyton: Our partnership with RRCC has connected us to so many wonderful people. Many of them decided to join our team permanently after fulfilling their AmeriCorps terms, because their service at NYAJ was so impactful to them.  

If your organization* is interested in increasing its capacity to serve, I certainly recommend partnering with RRCC. Through their support, we've been able to increase funding to further our organization's mission. 

* Nonprofits, state or government agencies, Native American tribes, religious organizations and school districts are eligible to partner with RRCC. For additional information on partnership opportunities, please click here