Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 held the Grand Opening for its Colonial Cafe 71 on the morning of September 12, 2024. The event was attended by CIU 20 staff, student workers with families, media, legislators, and community partners. Colonial Cafe 71 is a full-service coffee shop located at the CIU 20 central office, operated by students with special needs that promotes independence and supports skill building for future employment opportunities.
Several classrooms from the Colonial IU 20 Life Skills program work at Cafe 71. With the support and guidance of CIU 20 staff, the students interact and take orders from customers, operate electronic point-of-sale systems and make specialty drinks from a commercial grade coffee machine.