ILR High Road New York
Cafe Joyeux

ILR High Road New York is a statewide program that aims to teach ILR students practical methods for civic engagement and leadership through economic justice, evidence-based policy, and strategic development that creates opportunity for community members to share in prosperity.  The Summer 2024 New York City (NYC) High Road Fellowship Program will run from June 3rd to July 26th.  Students intern in person with various NYC partner organizations and will participate in weekly cohort workshops focused on critical reflection and peer-to-peer collaboration and networking and learning opportunities with guest speakers will be offered at ILR's NYC office on Lexington Avenue. All interns will be paid and need-based subsidized housing will be available. 

A disruptive French concept created in France in 2017 by Yann and Lydwine Bucaille, Café Joyeux is a chain of café-restaurants engaged in the promotion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the workplace through training, employment and exposure to the public. As of 2024, Café Joyeux operates 20 café-restaurants in France and Europe, where it employs over 700 people. The first American café has opened in New York in January 2024; it currently employs 19 people, including 60% of crew members with disabilities.

Joyeux Foundation US is searching for an ILR summer fellow. The fellow will work on a variety of tasks including:

1. Assisting with the development of the HR framework of Joyeux US so it supports all training and career development components in the most inclusive way.
2. Identifying corporations interested in encouraging their employees to go to the café, purchasing coffee and potentially becoming Joyeux Ambassadors to support the cause of IDD employment.
3. Gathering customer feedback at the café level, analyzing data on customer satisfaction, and making recommendations for improvements. This could involve conducting surveys, implementing customer service training for staff, and identifying ways to make the cafe more accessible and inclusive for all patrons.
4. Funding: Assist the Head trainer with a variety of funding related tasks such as listing potential private funding sources, grant writing opportunities, and researching innovative funding mechanisms that support the Joyeux innovative model
5. Assist the Café management team with a variety of daily tasks