The BEE Community

The BEE Community exists to provide meaningful work and a place of belonging for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Brazos Valley through the handcrafting of high quality products like soaps, candles, dog treats, stationery, jewelry, and fudge.

In Texas, up to 95% of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are unemployed and often, because of this, they are isolated. At The BEE Community, we are reversing this unemployment and isolation issue by creating meaningful work and a place of belonging. We want everyone- regardless of ability and capacity- to experience the dignity and purpose that comes with work. We believe everyone that has a pulse has a purpose and a divine design to work and contribute. BEE launched a work program in 2018 creating jobs for 7 individuals, known as artisans. The word artisans means a "craftsperson" or "a worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand". We wanted to create a workplace where the supports that each person needs to be able to meaningfully access work would never be taken away, creating a long-term, hope-filled solution for our artisans and their families. We now provide 22,500 hours of work and belonging annually. Our artisans high-quality products go out into the world reflecting their skill and dignity and our 60+ volunteers per semester are brought into the mutually-beneficial relationships and belonging our artisans create.

Testimonials

"Everything this organizations does is excellent and top-notch"- Mayor Bobby Gutierrez
"My dreams are coming true!"- BEE Artisan
"This is the best job in the universe"- BEE Artisan
"This isn't just a community- it's a family" - BEE Artisan
Ever since [our Artisan] has started here, he has grown sooooo much!- BEE Artisan Parent
Thanks for making [our daughter] clap and cheer again!- BEE Artisan Parent
We have searched across the country, and this is a premiere organization for our daughter- BEE Artisan Parent
"The community is so welcoming and like a little family. I love it!!!" - BEE Volunteer