Awaken Coffee

Awaken Coffee is a nonprofit coffee shop located at 101 W. 14th Street in Greenville, North Carolina, operated under the nonprofit organization Lives of Purpose, with the mission of equipping and empowering adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through employment and skill-based training. The shop employs more than 30 individuals as baristas and cashiers — many of whom are experiencing their first job — helping address the widespread unemployment gap that affects an estimated 80% of people with disabilities nationwide. Founded by Carol Preston and opened in April 2023, Awaken Coffee serves as both a welcoming community gathering place and a platform for inclusion, fostering lasting relationships between its employees and the greater Greenville community.