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QUEENS WEEKLY, OCTOBER 27, 2019
LIC-based nonprofi t that employs adults
with autism unveils new commercial kitchen
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A Long Island City-based granola
company that employs individuals
with autism is expanding
its reach into Manhattan.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, Luv Michael
Co. celebrated the grand opening
of its new commercial kitchen
in Tribeca. Bayside resident, founder
and president Dr. Lisa Libertore
started the nonprofit in 2015 after
noticing a lack of resources to prepare
her son, whom Luv Michael
is named after, and others with autism
for real-world jobs.
From 6 to 8 p.m., visitors were
welcomed to tour the 3,000 square
foot Luv Michael Kitchen and
Learning Center at 42 Walker St.
“This grand opening event
will include refreshments served,
a tour of the facility and a special
presentation on Luv Michael’s
achievements and the new and
exciting milestones yet to come.
We encourage all interested in
special needs innovation to come
join us,” said Liberatore.
According to the nonprofit, Luv
Michael “granologists” will work
and train five days a week in the
new state-of-the-art commercial
space until they are full prepared
to take part in the manufacturing
process. Autism education and culinary
specialists developed Luv
Micahel’s five-point curriculum,
which is based, in part, on the New
York state food handler’s license
exam.
The training process not only
allows individuals to work at Luv
Michael but also to gain the skills
and confidence to become employed
elsewhere in the future.
“Luv Michael Co. was never
designed to be a charity or provide
young autistic adults with ‘something
to do,'” Libertore said.
Instead, Luv Michael’s mission
has always been to “provide a
meaningful culinary vocation for
the autistic population and to produce
exceptional gluten-free and
natural products.”
When QNS spoke with Libertore
back in March, she said
that those with autism are often
obese due to a lack of exercise
and using food as positive reinforcement,
so she chose granola
in order to encourage those with
autism to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
Luv Michael currently employs
Granologists work to make Luv Michael’s healthy, all natural granola. Photos courtesy of Luv Michael Co. and Gus Butera
20 granologists who engage
in food-centric classroom lessons
and learn the 12-step lesson to
make granola. Each bag is packaged
and sold in more than 60
stores in the greater New York
City area including Starbucks,
Fresh & Co, D’Agostino Supermarkets,
Gristedes Neighborhood
Grocers and Wild by Nature.
The nonprofit is also replicating
its expansion project at the Greek
Orthodox Church of The Hamptons.
In 2017, Luv Michael was the
winner of a JetBlue-sponsored
competition for nonprofit food companies
and earned the opportunity
to have its granola distributed on
U.S. domestic JetBlue flights.
To RSVP to the grand opening,
contact Robert Paul by phone
at 631-770-3840 or by email at
rpaul@cahillstrategies.com.
To learn more about speaking
engagements and employment opportunities,
visit the Luv Michael
website.
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