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In recent years, downtown Brandon has welcomed many new businesses, making the district a popular destination for dining and shopping. Just a stone’s throw away from historic College Street, in a beautifully restored 1930’s home, is The Spot Downtown, a coffee and art shop that provides the perfect setting to gather with friends or find the perfect gift. Offering an assortment of coffee creations and other beverages, as well as tasty treats like their homemade pound cakes, there is something for everyone to enjoy. While The Spot Downtown has all the charm of a cozy coffee shop, the employees are what make it truly special. The Spot Downtown opened in March of 2022 and is operated by the Rankin County School District to house the Aspire program. Aspire is a transition program which offers community-based instruction and vocational skills training to high school students with disabilities. The goal is to support future transition to employment and adult living through hands-on activities and meaningful, real-life experiences. Summer Lewis is the Aspire program teacher and oversees the day-to-day operations of the shop. “Through their work here, students learn customer service, inventory processes, cleaning, working through daily checklists, and all the various skills needed to run the shop,” Summer says. “Our goal is to see these students go on to be competitively employed as adults.” Students in the RCSD Strive program also contribute to The Spot Downtown as they create the beautiful art available for purchase at the shop. Strive is the district’s transition program for students with disabilities who are ages 18-21. Like the Aspire students, students in the Strive program gain functional skills which will help them become gainfully employed and enjoy independence as adults. Where the Aspire students work in the coffee shop, Strive students get hands-on work experience in local businesses who have partnered with the program. “Community partnerships are what make this program the success it is,” says Tricia Bennett, Strive program teacher. “The businesses that allow us to bring students in to learn real-world skills not only make it possible for students to enter the workforce, but often these same businesses hire our students.” The beautiful landscaping around The Spot Downtown is made possible by the Brandon Garden Club, one of the Aspire program’s biggest supporters. Garden Club members spend countless hours with students, teaching them valuable gardening and plant maintenance skills as they work side-by-side. Students even have their own greenhouse located just behind the coffee shop. “Not only do they learn landscaping skills,” says Summer, “but through their work with the Brandon Garden Club, students develop an understanding of the power of community and giving to others.” To show their appreciation, students host an annual tea for Hometown RANKIN • 47