Friendship Circle Buys Bakery to Expand Jobs for People with Special Needs

Every person deserves self-fulfillment and opportunities to help them build a thriving career — and adults with special needs in southeast Michigan can find both at Dakota Bread Company. 

This West Bloomfield spot was recently purchased by the Friendship Circle — a local non-profit that works to promote inclusion and provide individuals with special needs the support they deserve — and offers a bakery training program for adults with special needs to learn the tools of the trade.

In this program, adults with special needs learn life skills including management, organization, customer service and more with the ultimate goal of trainees becoming part of the bakery’s staff.

The idea began forming after Friendship Circle held a popular challah baking program there several years ago and it came to fruition when staff learned the owners of Dakota Bread Company were planning to retire.

The bakery officially reopened under new management Oct. 20, 2020, with the same staff and the same delicious challah recipe Dakota Bread Company is known for.

The bakery training program joins the Friendship Circle’s other community job training and employment programs — Soul Café, which provides individuals with special needs training and employment opportunities in a working restaurant, and the open art studio, Soul Studio.

For more information on the Friendship Circle’s newest job training program and for details on how to join in, visit friendshipcircle.org.