Denver’s Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus:
A Vision of Equity and Inclusion
True employment diversity means equity and inclusion. It means breaking down barriers, having patience, and encouraging growth. It takes a community and people willing to rise to the challenge and create a solution.
In 2018, two people did just that.
Pos Ryant, the co-founder of Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization, met Mary Medellin Sims, founder of Guided by Humanity. They discovered they had something in common. They desired to employ traditionally underserved and underemployed people–disenfranchised youth and people with disabilities.
Ryant and Sims realized that the communities they served had another thing in common: A lack of access to nutritious foods and knowledge of healthy eating and food preparation. They came up with a plan to start a food truck that offered healthy choices, nutrition education, and provide employment and job training.
Sims and Ryant co-created The Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus, which offers healthy smoothies and bowls and emphasizes building community. Youth work alongside adults with I/DD. Both groups earn a wage and learn leadership and job skills.
The Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus is not your ordinary food truck. The Smoothie Bus is a non-profit. Not only does it provide employment opportunities to youth and people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in Denver, Colorado, the bus hosts pop-up educational workshops and on-site wellness services at festivals and schools throughout the Denver Metro area.
The workshops and on-site wellness services primarily target Denver’s low-income areas subject to “food deserts,” meaning that access to healthy food is limited. The staff members of Guided By Humanity and the Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization teach classes about nutritious and sustainable eating within their wellness workshops and feature local and fresh resources from Colorado organizations. They also teach movement classes, such as Tai Chi and All-abilities Yoga, and Social-Emotional learning.
Empowering People with I/DD
A supportive environment is crucial to empower people with disabilities or people who have experienced trauma. The Smoothie Bus supports its employees with thoughtful access that focuses on the person’s strengths. Cleverly laid out Instruction menus with pictures and words are easily followed.
Each employee has a meaningful job to complete and is a worthy and essential team member. A coach is available to encourage and guide the employee through a task.
Feeling valued makes a difference for the people employed by the Smoothie Bus. Jocelyn Roy, a Smoothie Bus employee, said this in her interview with PBS:
“I am grateful that I have a big community. The people at Smoothie Bus are like family to me,” Roy said. “Some of my challenges were that people would make fun of how I talk, stare at me or say mean things to me. I mustered up the strength to overcome those insecurities because I didn’t want to stay stuck somewhere that didn’t benefit me or miss out on opportunities.”
By renting or visiting Denver’s The Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus, you are helping sustain a supportive employment opportunity for people with I/DD.
A Successful Vision
The business model is a success. With a menu featuring gorgeous, tasty smoothies at desirable price points between $5-$8 an item, business is brisk, and The Smoothie Bus is showing up all over the Denver Metro area.
In 2022, the Smoothie Bus was a regular on Sundays at Jazz in the Park and Thursdays at Movie Night at Founders Green. PASCO Health rented the Smoothie Bus and became the employee picnic’s highlight!
The Smoothie Bus stopped at Meow Wolf and is a regular at the First Friday Art Walk in the Santa Fe Arts District. Are you wondering what was on the menu?
Check out the Smoothie Bus Menu below!
All of the smoothies can be custom blended to match your dietary preference!
How do you track down a bus that is constantly in motion? Fans and future fans are encouraged to find out about the next Smoothie Bus stop by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
After the pandemic, people are starting to gather again, and the desire for food trucks increases. Food truck carnivals and food truck rentals to enhance an event are popular. There are many choices of food trucks, but only one Smoothie Bus for rent in Denver that provides a quality product and supports at-risk youth and people with I/DD.
The Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus is the perfect complement for special events, like fundraisers, back-to-school nights, group picnics, athletic events, charity walks, farmers markets, art show openings, fashion week, and even wedding receptions and parties!
The Smoothie Bus is so much more than a delicious smoothie. It builds community through cooperative learning and supportive employment. Your purchase or rental of the truck is an act of ethical purchasing. Why not put your money and energy into areas with the most impact? The Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus is making a difference, one smoothie at a time.
Per Mary Medellin Sims of Guided By Humanity and co-founder of The Smoothie Bus, “This programming paired with healthy smoothies is meant to be inclusive, trauma-sensitive, and accessible to EveryBODY and EveryABILITY.”
A perfect blend of health and inclusion!
Are you ready to enjoy a delicious smoothie and give back to your community?
Catch the bus!
The Peace and Humanity Smoothie Bus schedule is filling quickly
The pandemic put-off is REAL! Event spaces, food trucks, and catering, including The Smoothie Bus, are getting booked quickly. If you have an event coming up, fill out an interest form or email info@smoothiebus.co.
For immediate quotes, call (303) 437-9466.
Enjoy a healthy smoothie. It’s good Karma in a cup!
Book or visit The Smoothie Bus!
Check out this video from PBS!
Want to take a yoga class? Visit Guided by Humanity and sign up
