Do-it-yourself (DIY) creative studio, Rustic Flamingo, officially opened in Braden River Plaza yesterday with a special ribbon cutting ceremony, in coordination with the Manatee Chamber of Commerce. While Rustic Flamingo offers a new fun night out option with an array of crafts and projects to choose from, its the mission to uphold workplace diversity and inclusion that makes this new business especially worth mentioning. "We create opportunities for people that are often overlooked," says Jacque Rush, founder and co-owner of Rustic Flamingo. Ruch has more than a decade of experience developing educational and employment programs for persons with unique abilities. “Rustic Flamingo combines two things I love, working with people with unique abilities and creating farmhouse decor," she says.

The company refers to its crew as "uniquely-abled —orffering employees with distabilities an equal opportunity to succeed, to learn, to be compensated fairly, to gain valuable job experience and advance.

People with disabilities represent a significant talent pool, with one in four adults having some type of disability—whether visible or invisible. And despite wanting and striving to work, people with disabilities are employed at a much lower rate than their peers. Rustic Flamingo however, has partnered with The Brightest Employment Services and Manatee County School Board to provide job training and employment for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Bradenton/greater Sarasota area. 

 "My partner, Denise Tarbell and I, are thrilled to bring this opportunity to the Gulf Coast Region to help address the 80% unemployment rate that impacts persons with disabilities across the United States," says Ruch. "So many times, employment opportunities are limited to food service, cleaning, or landscaping for persons with unique abilities. Rustic Flamingo provides a unique employment opportunity where employees have the opportunity to interact with people within their community, grow their social skills, have fun AND earn a paycheck!”  

A portion of all proceeds is donated to agencies in the greater Sarasota area that serve persons with disabilities and helps to sponsor Braden River’s Top Soccer Fall League. "We are passionate about partnerships and giving back to our community," Ruch shares. "We have also partnered with fellow inclusive employer Rise Coffee Co. and will be serving complimentary Rise Coffee at all our workshops. Everyone is welcome at Rustic Flamingo."

Contact Jacque Ruch at 941-216-4000 or by email at info@rusticflamingo.com for more information. 

Photo courtesy of Rustic Flamingo, 4306 SR 64 East, Bradenton, 34208