Purple Tree Cafe is a nonprofit social enterprise that creates meaningful, community-based employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Sacramento and Davis, California.
Founded in 2018 as a small farmers market operation with a bicycle-powered coffee cart, Purple Tree has grown into a multi-faceted organization including a storefront at the UC Davis MIND Institute in Sacramento, a commercial kitchen at the Davis Community Church, catering services, and an ongoing presence at the Davis Farmers Market and other community events in Davis. We currently employ 12 individuals with disabilities who gain real-world experience in a supportive and inclusive environment as bakers, baristas, cashiers, and servers.
Each year, Purple Tree employees serve thousands of customers across our cafe, catering, and market activities, demonstrating that people with disabilities are capable, reliable, and valuable members of the workforce. Their stories demonstrate the impact of the work we do. Here are a few:
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Bea started at Purple Tree as a high school volunteer and quickly transitioned into her first paid job here in 2019. She has excelled at every role available at Purple Tree and leveraged those skills to obtain a second position at a bakery and cafe in Woodland. As Bea explains, “Purple Tree is a starting point. It helps you go through the beginning of a cafe-style job.” She adds, “I’ve gained so many skills, which I was able to take to my other job.” Now, she confidently manages busy cafe environments, supports her coworkers, and continues growing in both of her roles. |
| Jennifer has built confidence, consistency, and workplace skills through her time at Purple Tree, which is now the longest job she has ever held. As she shares, “I like having a job like everyone else does. It’s good to have something that I can do.” She also values the relationships and supportive environment: “I like working with people, especially when they’re chatty.” Through her work, Jennifer has developed important workplace habits and communication skills that will support her long-term goals. As she puts it, “I’ve learned things like getting up on time and communicating well with my coworkers and my supervisor. Those will help me in any job.” | |
| William joined Purple Tree after a difficult prior work experience and quickly found something different here: a sense of belonging and purpose. Reflecting on his first impressions, he shared, “The way Purple Tree is set up, everyone feels like a coworker… it feels more respectful and human.” Within just a few months, William gained hands-on experience across multiple roles and grew in both his confidence and independence. “I feel like I have a strong resume now, and I know how to self-advocate,” he says. Looking ahead, he adds, “I would like to go into food service or customer service. I think I realized that I like helping people.” |
You can read more about these individuals by clicking on their names above. Their stories reflect what becomes possible when people are given the opportunity to work, contribute, and grow. Your support helps make that possible by funding wages today and building pathways to long-term employment tomorrow.
Visit us in person to meet our employees, support our work, and learn more:
MIND Institute @ UCD Medical Center
2825 50th Street, Second Floor, Sacramento, CA 95824
Monday-Thursday
8:00am-2:00pm
Davis Farmers Market
Central Park, 301 C St, Davis, CA 95616
Saturdays
8:00am-1:00pm
Purple Tree Cafe creates meaningful, community-based employment for people with disabilities and bring people with and without disabilities together through food, art, and music.
Purple Tree is seeking donations for wages for our employees with disabilities as we work to expand our services to include more individualized job readiness training, coaching, and support in future years.
Despite a strong desire to work, many individuals with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to employment, including limited access to quality training opportunities, fewer chances to gain work experience, and persistent misconceptions about their abilities. Nationally, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is roughly twice that of people without disabilities, and nearly three-quarters are not participating in the labor force. In California, just over half of working-age adults with disabilities participate in the labor force, compared to approximately 83 percent of adults without disabilities. Your contributions make it possible for individuals to participate consistently in our program, build skills over time, and contribute in a real-world workplace environment. They also provide the stability needed to grow our organization in a sustainable way. Maintaining this foundation is essential as we continue developing the next phase of our work.
Purple Tree honors and believes in the strength of inclusion, equity, and bringing people with different experiences and abilities together. We are proud to work in the community to foster unity, celebrate diversity, and seek to help people who have been historically excluded to find empowerment and equity.
Organization name
Purple Tree Cafe
other names
Our House Cafe (legal name)
2011
Mission Category
Human Services
Operating Budget
$100,001-$250,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted, Board Members
Demographics Served
Individuals with disabilities, General population
Local Counties Served
Sacramento, Yolo
Address
412 C Street c/o Davis Community ChurchDavis, CA, US
Yolo County, CA, US
Sacramento, CA, US
Sacramento County, CA, US