We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Wismann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Savory Snackables helps the community by providing an outlet to adults with intellectual disabilities to practice kitchen skills and food art. We go into day programs and work with the adults on cutting skills and using their creativity to create charcuterie platters. We also provide a tasting board in each group class so they get the opportunity to try cheeses and pairings that they may not normally get.

In addition, when we have skewering/repetitive type orders that come through the shop, there are certain individuals that very much enjoy that type of task who like to participate. They are gaining job skills!

Some standout feedback from parents/caregivers include that their participant now participates in more kitchen help and cooking. A day program direct support professional stated that they expected to need to provide a lot of support to their client, but was shocked at how independent they were with the tasks. We get overwhelming positive reviews and fanatic “YES” when asking the adults if they would like us to return.

We hope we can one day grow enough to hire some of these adults on a regular basis and/or are helping them towards a potential job in the catering industry! We feel that our small program opens up their horizons and independence through adventure with food!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Having a daughter with disabilities has 100% lit my path. I have always been a creative, but her needs have defined how I have come where I am professionally. Changing course of what life was “supposed to look like” was a necessity. Her needs required me to be home often and I was unable to hold traditional jobs.

I became her advocate. I submerged myself into the disability community and learned overtime that I was great at creating community and togetherness through event planning and my creative self.

As my daughter aged into adulthood, I had to come up with an opportunity that would be meaningful to her as well as create a living for my family. Savory Snackables has married all this into one.. creating community through events (creative food!), advocating for inclusive business practices, providing meaning and/or job skills for adults with disabilities and being able to support my family through my greatest passions. Through all the trials and needs to adapt through life being a parent to an adult with disabilities, I know without a doubt that this is where I was meant to be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a super proponent of small business and experiences! When my friends have visited we always go to Brewability! We enjoy the small business/shop experience walking in Downtown Littleton and Bakers District on Broadway. For a downtown Denver experience we would visit around the Denver Milk Market and take in a show at the Clocktower Cabaret! For a pizza fix we would recommend Atomic Cowboy handsdown!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to Brewabilty and The Autism Community Store for being longstanding pioneers of creating inclusive spaces with inclusive hiring practices. These two businesses specifically have inspired my views and goals as to how I would like my company to grow with inclusivity. They work very hard on the daily and provide so much opportunity for those with disabilities and their families to be part of the community.

Shoutout to my 23yo daughter, Kara, for helping me find my vision within this community. She has triumphed in a world not created for her and shows courage and light for others every single day. She is my reason!

Website: https://www.savorysnackables.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savorysnackables

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-wismann-185382b

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savorysnackables

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/savory-snackables-aurora

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.