BARRINGTON - Members of the Barrington High School Future Business Leaders of America have teamed up with the Corliss Institute, a non-profit service organization in Warren for mentally handicapped or deaf people, to open a coffee shop.

The Hidden Grounds Cafe is still in the planning phase, but coordinators from both groups say the project will be mutually beneficial.

According to Barrington FBLA President Joel Buff, local club members came up with the idea for the coffee shop in mid-July, after the group spent a week at a national business leadership conference.

"We needed fundraising experience," Mr. Buff said. "On the plane ride home, Chris [Chris Breen, FBLA vice-president] proposed the coffee shop. It was the perfect answer. Our motto is 'Service, Education, Progress.' So, it fit perfectly."

Barrington FBLA member Joel Buff hands coffee to Emily Neubauer at the Corliss Institute in Warren last week.

Mary Ellen Breen, the director of the Corliss Institute and mother of Chris Breen, was thrilled when members of the student club approached her with the idea. The plan also met Corliss Institute's needs.

"We have mutual goals," she said. "The timing is good, and Corliss' has the space and the need."

According to Mrs. Breen, the cafe could help the non-profit group meet operating costs and allow them to share their facilities with the community.

Though Corliss Institute's Board of Directors has yet to give the project a final approval, students and Corliss members are confident their plans will become a reality. They have already begun preparing for the shop's opening. The groups have not set a date for the grand opening.

Barrington High School student Emily Neubauer, 16, said students started collecting donations immediately after approaching Mrs. Breen with the idea.

"We started the project right away," Ms. Neubauer said. "We got online and made phone calls. We got tons of coffee delivered from California, and even had an interior designer offer to help us with the decorating."

According to Corliss member A Rivera, Barrington FBLA students will end their work on the project when the cafe doors open.

"Students will partner with the deaf community in the planning stage," Ms. Rivera said. "Deaf members will operate the shop."

"Deaf can do it," she added enthusiastically.

Ms. Rivera hopes that in addition to providing good work experience for Corliss members, the new business will also become a meeting place for the hearing and deaf alike.

"It's open to all who want to meet new people and share and learn from each other," she said.

In addition to being staffed by Corliss members, American Sign Language interpreters will translate for customers during business hours at the cafe.

Next month, Barrington FBLA students will present the Hidden Grounds Cafe project to the Corliss Institute Board of Directors. A vote to formally approve or decline the project will immediately follow their presentation.

Jason Harritos, a Corliss member since 2000 and board member, will vote at next month's meeting. He's supportive of the project.

"I think the coffee shop is exciting," Mr. Harritos said. "We can work together with the students and we will have more opportunities to socialize with all people. It's so nice of them to help us and it's good for us to help them."

Get involved

BHS students interested in joining the Barrington chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America are invited to an informational meeting Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., in the Barrington High School auditorium. Also, donations to the FBLA-Corliss Institute coffee shop can be sent to Barrington High School, at 220 Lincoln Ave., Barrington, RI 02806. Mark envelopes: Attn. FLBA-Corliss.

By Lucy Butler

lbutler@eastbaynewspapers.com