Empowering Through Purpose

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Since its founding in 2022, Soundview Empowerment Alliance (SEA) has pursued a dual mission: to preserve a historic neighborhood gathering place and to create meaningful job training opportunities for individuals with special needs. These two goals are deeply connected. The Old Mill Grocery & Deli is not only a landmark of local history, but also a living space for inclusion, learning, and community connection.

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From the beginning, SEA’s board recognized that the training program would need to grow within a working business, not as a separate classroom. With just 500 square feet of space in a quiet residential neighborhood, the Old Mill Grocery & Deli was intentionally designed to operate on a small, human scale. The store itself would become the classroom, and real-life experience would become the lesson.

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Building the Foundation

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In July 2022, SEA partnered with The Granola Bar as the first operator of Old Mill Grocery. With limited funding and space, SEA began developing its training model through community partnerships. Within five months, SEA launched a collaboration with the Westport Public Schools Connections Transition Program, which provides consistent on-site training for young adults with disabilities. Trainees worked four to five days each week, supported by skilled job coaches who handled transportation, supervision, and safety.

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By March 2023, the first trainees began shifts at the store, taking on customer-facing roles such as stocking shelves, bussing tables, and greeting visitors. SEA continued building capacity behind the scenes, preparing payroll systems, insurance, and a formal training team for a future phase that would include paid positions. When The Granola Bar unexpectedly ended its lease in mid-2023, the program temporarily paused while SEA worked to stabilize operations and find a new partner.

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Growth and the Road Ahead

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In January 2024, Romanacci took over operations at Old Mill Grocery, bringing renewed energy and shared values. After a short period of transition, SEA resumed its training partnership in November 2024 with the Connections Program and expanded to include students from Staples High School. Between November 2024 and June 2025, SEA hosted two to four trainees weekly, each supported by job coaches and staff who provided hands-on learning and mentorship.

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Although the training program is paused during the summer months, it has returned in full this fall. SEA’s long-term goal remains the creation of paid training positions directly administered by the organization, building on the success of the existing partnerships.