Kindred Bakery BK isn’t just a bakery—it’s a movement. We are a social enterprise rooted in Flatbush, Brooklyn, using the art of baking to create meaningful opportunities for marginalized people, especially those with Autism and Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). For us, baking is more than just a skill—it’s a pathway to confidence, independence, and inclusion. Through hands-on training in professional kitchens, we equip our students with real-world skill building, social-emotional learning (SEL), and STEAM-based education, helping them gain access to meaningful opportunities and community engagement.

Kindred was founded by Qiana Daniels, a veteran New York City public school teacher, and Nigel Thompson, a retired police officer turned artisan baker. As parents of a neurodivergent son, they saw firsthand how the “disability cliff” leaves many young adults without support after high school, making career opportunities especially hard to access for individuals from marginalized class backgrounds. Determined to change this, they built Kindred as a space where learning is inclusive, empowering, and leads to real opportunities.

In 2025, we’re making history—Kindred will be the first bakery led by people with disabilities to sell at a major NYC cultural institution, operating a public-facing café inside a museum. This initiative will give our students hands-on work experience in a high-visibility space, proving what’s possible when inclusion isn’t an afterthought, but a priority. We’re also expanding our Saturday Baking Workshops to specialized New York City public schools for students with ASD/IDD, giving more students access to structured vocational training and social-emotional learning.

At Kindred Bakery BK, we believe in kindness, resilience, and the power of community. By creating spaces where neurodivergent individuals—especially those from marginalized intersecting working-class backgrounds—can thrive, we are proving that inclusion benefits everyone. Through baking, we are shaping a future where diverse talents are valued, workplaces reflect true accessibility, and opportunity isn’t limited by disability or background.

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