Exceptional People
Greetings!

"We call April Autism Acceptance Month." Nila Benito, the mother of our cafe artist Joseph Benito, gently informed me via Facebook messenger.

"The link above explains why and this is an excerpt: 'Autism Acceptance Month was created by and for the autistic community to change the conversation around autism, shifting it away from stigmatizing “autism awareness” language'."

It has been over 20 years since my "Exceptional People" course.

Like most languages, sciences and cultures, things change.

Thank God things change. Thoughts and people evolve on topics and issues.

Ms. Benito was re-educating me on how the language and perspectives have evolved and I'm so grateful for that.
All About Syrius

I'd like to tell you more about an exceptional employee we have in The Cafe. Like the sound of his name, he takes his job very "seriously".

Our cafe barista Syrius is a jack of all trades. He likes to stay busy. He can make sandwiches and lattes; and he really loves to vacuum. We love that he loves that!

When left to his own devices, Syrius likes to explore The Portico Campus. During his first week of work, he wandered into our 2nd Floor Flex Space. If you clicked the link you can guess what's coming next. Here's the story...

I was working in my office when I heard what I thought to be someone's child at the piano. This "child", I thought was happily banging away at keys as happy children do, pretending to play the piano. I didn't mind. I mean, it's The Portico. Things like this happen here.

And then the banging got a bit more organized...like "this child" was some sort of musical savant who, in less than 2 minutes, discovered how to play the piano.

Like it was Chopin at the piano y'all! Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but close.

In that moment, I knew it was our exceptional barista, Syrius!

Of course I was beyond impressed, but I re-directed him back to his barista work.

Syrius has been working with us for about six weeks now; and he's made quite an impression on me. He continues to show me how capable he is and about what's important to him.

I'm learning and evolving so much. I love it!

Read more about Syrius below.

6 p.m. Fri., Apr. 22 | Art + Open Mic Night at The Portico Cafe

I hope his mom, Deanna, sees this and brings him out to our Art + Open Mic event tomorrow night for Fourth Friday Downtown.

Maybe he can bang on the keyboard a bit? You never know what may happen.

He's my new, exceptionally exceptional, friend.

I think he would love open mic night. If you join me, I think you'd love it (and Syrius) too.

Peace,

Chalette M. Davis
Events & Missions
Chalette@ThePortico.org
O: 813.222.2299 | M: 813.951.6974
1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Conversation. Connection. Community Change.

P.S. This is the last open mic night before the summer break so if you miss this one, remember well pick it back up in the fall.

Art + Open Mic Night
6 p.m. Friday, April 22
FREE & Open to Public

The Portico Cafe is back in April for Autism Acceptance Month welcoming local artists to share their talents with downtown Tampa during this special Fourth Friday event.

ABOUT OPEN MIC NIGHT
Acoustic musicians, poets and performers are welcome to perform and collaborate.

Limited 15 minute sets available.

Performers sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3t8mmUT

** Family-friendly Entertainment Please **

**Beginning at 6 pm: Buy One Specialty Coffee Drink and Receive a Free Muffin**

Free and open to the public!

Check out our menu at ThePorticoCafe.org

ABOUT THE ART | ARTIST STATEMENT
Raising awareness for Autism Acceptance Month, The Portico Cafe welcomes an artist living with autism, Joseph Benito, to our space.

“Painting is a fun way for me to express myself. Thank you for following my art adventures.”

Learn more about Joseph at @MyArtByJB

EVENT HOST | Jasey Soulz
For many years Jasey Soulz has hosted open mic events in the Tampa Bay area– most notably at the Bamboozle Tea Lounge in downtown. A talented performer himself, Jasey has also co-hosted and judged several local talent shows within the New York metropolitan area.

This event is free and open to the public.

Want to serve? Contact Chalette.

Connect more on Facebook.
Mindi's Habitat Build
NEW COMMUNITY BUILD DAY!
7:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30

Let's build Mindi's house!

Join friends and neighbors of The Portico in celebrating Mindi, one of our greatest success stories.

Stay connected and join the team that will begin building the home of one of our success stories at The Portico.

 We are hosting a "BIG" build day on April 30.

The foundation and walls of Mindi's house have gone up and we are ready to host a serve day and give Mindi a big surge of volunteer support!

Want to serve? Register here

Connect more on Facebook.
WE'RE ON A MISSION!
THE PORTICO CAFE IS OPEN
8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays - Friday
HELP US MEET OUR MONTHLY GOAL!

Coffee On A Mission

As of Thursday, April 21: 61 Bags Sold 

The Mission: 100 Bags in 30 Days 

The Coffee: Locally-roasted Portico Blends and Don Carlos Espresso

The Cause: Stand against homelessness with every gift or purchase.

Buy, give or donate at: ThePorticoCafe.org.

We ship ANYWHERE in the U.S. coast to coast ($5 delivery in Hills. Co.). 
THE PORTICO CAFE IS OPEN!

A Barista Feature: About Syrius

Syrius attends Middleton High School and trains in their cafeteria, but his work at The Portico Cafe is his first job.

Syrius likes making coffee and doing food prep, but he likes cleaning the most (vacuuming and washing dishes).

His favorite thing about working at The Portico Cafe: He gets paid!

"It gives him a sense of what it is to be an adult." says his mom, Deanna, who recently took Syrius to open his first back account where he deposited his first check.

Syrius is excited to have his very own debit card with HIS name on it!

According to mom, "He doesn't know that he's autistic. So he doesn't understand why he can or can't do certain things like his brother's do."

So this job at The Portico Cafe is helping him feel like he's on his own and is doing for himself.

A Barista Feature: More about Syrius

Syrius is a vocational rehab employee that we hired through a community partnership with Tampa Crossroads. He has worked in The Portico Cafe for over a month now.
We're so lucky to have him!

Tampa Crossroads develops partnerships with many community organizations and private sector businesses, addressing the unique employment needs of people with disabilities.

Through this partnership, we're able to train individuals with disabilities and give them their "first shot" at finding long term/sustainable employment.

We all work together to make a difference!


We watch him do more and more every day.

Syrius is a great help all over campus.
Menu Items:
Breakfast
Morning Cuban 
Breakfast Burrito
Avocado Toast
Cuban Toast
Lunch
Turkey Club
Portico Cuban

Full Menu
Every time you give or make a purchase at The Cafe, you bring us closer to our goal to bring back a fully operational cafe with a mission: to help the formerly addicted and homeless onto employment ladders and into safe affordable housing.
Yoga Mondays
Community Yoga
5:30p.m. Mondays
The Community Hall
FREE & Open to Public
Midday Meditation
12:30 p.m. Tuesdays
The Henderson Chapel

Refresh your soul and connect with The Divine during this brief mediation practice each Tuesday.

Join us Tuesdays in The Portico's Henderson Chapel.

For more information contact Justin@theportico.org.
BOOK A SMALL MEETING SPACE AT THE PORTICO
Book one of our small meeting rooms for business meetings and small gatherings.

The Board Room, our newly renovated space, was designed exclusively for business-style meetings. It is one of six meeting/event spaces currently available to suit your small gathering needs (30 persons or less).

Book your meeting now at ThePortico.org/ReserveSpace.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS

12 p.m. Sunday, May 8 | Community Meal
6 p.m. Tuesdays Starting May 10 | RISE: 12 Steps with Jesus
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 23 | HOPE Justice Ministry Celebration

For more info on upcoming events, visit ThePortico.org/Event.
The Portico | 1001 N. Florida Avenue | 813.222.2299 | ThePortico.org