Skills of Life

Skills of Life Café is a nonprofit organization in Santa Cruz, California, created to help neurodiverse teens and young adults with mild intellectual disabilities build skills and access meaningful employment. Launched in 2024, the café offers a supportive, structured vocational training program where interns learn through real responsibilities in a community café setting.

Training focuses on soft skills, customer service, communication, order and time management, task completion, teamwork, and workplace etiquette. With guided learning, repetition, and room to make and learn from mistakes, participants can develop confidence, independence, leadership, and pride in their progress. The program aims to connect these strengthened abilities with competitive, meaningful employment in the community.

The organization is led by an executive director who is a licensed occupational therapist with experience in education and rehabilitation. Skills of Life Café also invites community members to support its work through donations and volunteering. The café is located on the front patio at Simpkins Swim Center, 979 17th Avenue in Santa Cruz, and is open Wednesday through Friday and Saturday mornings.