ABOUT US
Mission:
Provide a community where persons on the Autism Spectrum, Neurodiverse, and/or with Communication Disorders will develop/enhance social, volunteer/employment, and entrepreneurship skills that can lead to financial stability and social competencies.
Vision:
Enhancing friendships/acquaintanceships through arts and crafts with everyone; primarily persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodiverse, and Communication Disorders.
About Us
At Obsessions Gift Shop, we're committed to offering quality products, unparalleled service and the most competitive prices in town. We are a mother daughter owned business. Our business supports Autism and is an Autism Friendly Business.
Since 2017, Obsessions Gift shop has become one of the most well-known Gift Shops in Tallahassee. What started as a hobby has become our passion. Nijah was about to graduate from high school and I wanted to give her the opportunity to become financially stable. As you may know, the job retention rate among persons with Autism is low. I also wanted to give her and other the opportunity to showcase their talents through entrepreneurship. So we began Obsessions Gift Shop. We started selling jewelry and then began selling other items. We're proud to have created a generation of happy customers and look forward to continuing our work for years.
We are a Social Enterprise, Obsessions Gift Shop is a for profit and Motivating People through Arts and Crafts, MPAC, is a nonprofit. MPAC was founded in 2020. We founded MPAC with the vision to provide a space where persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Communication Disorders can learn employment, social, and life competencies. MPAC intends to garner opportunities for financial independence; increase job retention by employing or training our target population to develop leadership, social, and life competencies. MPAC provides these competencies through workshops, volunteer experiences, and entrepreneurship skills to everyone, especially our target population.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodiversity, and Communication Disorders?
Our Team
Nijah is the reason for MPAC and Obsessions. Nijah is currently in college and is co-owner of Obsessions. Nijah is a member of MPAC board. She loves organizing and meeting people. Nijah has a small business names Beautiful Rose. Beautiful Rose creates gemstone bracelets. Visit her items in Obsessions Gift Shop. The goals is for Nijah to take full ownership of Obsessions Gifts and become the Executive Director of MPAC.
Betty
Betty has a Masters degree in Social Work. Her life and career has been helping families. She has worked with a variety of populations and agencies. Betty spent several years working with families whose children had behavioral challenges and/or were abused or neglected. She also spent several years working with Workforce Development helping youth find a career. There she worked with pregnant teens. FSU Autism Institute was the last employment prior to becoming an entrepreneur. She worked at the Institute for at least 7 years where she worked with children and families; providing resources; strategies; and supports. She worked with Early Social Interaction and Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Betty continues to work with families, children, and teens.
Nijah
Our team consists of Nijah and Betty and others who volunteer and intern. We believe in giving people meaningful experiences and in turn our interns and volunteers give to our participants and/or others. Contact us if you are interested in volunteering or interning.