The Coffee Shop Where Everyone Belongs: Creating Beauty and Community Around Disability, with Danielle Grandholme

Health Raisers

Welcome to another episode of Health Raisers, Wise Women! My guest is Danielle Grandholme, the founder and director of Rising Kites, a nonprofit organization that celebrates the gift of Down syndrome. Inspired by her daughter Sammie, Danielle and her husband, Matt, started Rising Kites to bring resources, encouragement, and community to families in the Down syndrome community.

What began as a personal mission has grown into a vibrant movement. Today, Rising Kites also offers meaningful employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities through Rising Kites Coffee and Rising Kites Flowers — creating inclusive spaces that uplift and empower. In her free time, Danielle enjoys gardening and spending time at the beach with her family.

What we learn:

🐙 From Isolation to Community: Turning challenges to opportunities to build community.

🐙 Small Gestures Make Big Impacts: Danielle's resource bags have helped thousands of families nationwide.

🐙 Inclusive Spaces Change Everything: Creating environments where people with disabilities can truly be themselves - without judgment or barriers - benefits not just those individuals but entire communities.

🐙 Unfiltered Authenticity is a Gift: Learning from individuals with disabilities who live unapologetically as themselves, asking for what they need, and expressing joy without inhibition.

🐙 Therapy Through Beauty: Flower gardening became healing therapy, with each unique bloom serving as a metaphor for how every person is beautiful just the way they are.

🎙️ Original Podcast Music by Nadine Kelly (drums and vocals) and Tim Buell; Produced by Tim Buell

❤️ Sponsored by Infusco Coffee Roasters, Mak Salon and Spa, and Fernwood Botanical Garden.