microConnections offers creative work opportunities that uphold individual dignity while furthering transferable job skill acquisition.

microConnections is committed to inspiring environmental literacy and fellowship for our young adult learners across their work experiences.
 
microConnections includes:
  • Eco Connections
  • Eco Connections Teaching Garden including Farm to Naperville 
  • The Bloom Room
  • The Snack Shack
  • Connections Cares
The Bloom Room
​Our students combine the beauty of nature with their artistic talent to create arrangements using flowers donated to our program by Trader Joe's of Naperville.  Our students prep the re-purposed blooms, creating arrangements that they deliver to our business partners and those who may be experiencing sickness, disability and poverty.  All of our arrangements are placed in our signature mason jars and wrapped with baker's twine. 

The Bloom Room has taken our love of flowers to the next level by offering unique arrangements and petite bouquets for small, local events.  Using seasonally available and standout flowers, our students create arrangements having an organic and individual touch.  We ask for a program donation in lieu of offering a fixed price for our arrangements.  Please fill out the form below to contact The Bloom Room directly, including a brief description of your event and vision.  We will gladly work with you to meet your needs.  Please take a look at our blog where you can find pictures of event blooms created by The Bloom Room.
Eco Connections
​Our young adults further their citizenship and environmental literacy via:
  • Recycling NCUSD 203 generated paper waste and donated jewelry into handmade stationary, bookmarks, and lanyards.
  • Recycling fleece scraps to make dog and cat toys.
  • Upcyclying items donated to our program to create new products including framed art prints.
  • Dehydrating organic vegetables to make dog treats. 
  • Creating fleece blankets out of fleece that is donated to our program.
  • The Eco Connections Teaching Garden where our students organically and sustainably grow herbs, vegetables, native prairie plants, and participate in Monarch Watch.  We are creating Farm to Naperville, a collaborative with area restaurants and chefs, where our garden serves as a produce supplier.  Veterans Victory Farm assists in guiding our work.
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The Snack Shack est 2016
With the aroma of beans brewing and light music playing in the background, Connections students and staff enjoy fresh coffee, tea, espresso drinks, and snacks thanks to The Snack Shack, our in-house coffee shop.  Our students make regular, decaf, and flavor-of-the-day coffee daily while also offering a selection of black, green, and herbal teas.  The Snack Shack additionally carries a range of snacks, pop, chocolate milk, and water.  We are thrilled to announce that The Snack Shack additionally offers a range of espresso drinks including Americano's, Doppio's, Latte's, Cappuccino's, and Mocha's.  We apologize that The Snack Shack is not open to the public at this time.

After successfully working in The Snack Shack, our students transition to Half Caf Cafe, NNHS's new coffee shop.  From Half Caf, our dream is for our students to transition to an internship experience with Peet's Coffee & Tea or Starbucks.  
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Connections Cares
Connections Cares is the philanthropic arm of mircoConnections.  Our students enjoy giving back to the community in several ways.  10% of all microConnections profits are given back in the form of handmade fleece blankets that our students make, deliver, and donate to the Care Center at Edward Hospital and the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital.  We additionally donate 10% of our dog toys and treats to our business partners, highlighting the Naperville Area Humane Society and the MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation.

    @TheBloomRoom
"Behind every small business, there's a story worth knowing."
​
Paul Ryan