origin of the project

Especially Stroopwafels began as a pilot initiative within Create Waunakee, Inc., where the concept was developed and tested as part of the organization’s effort to support creative community projects. Building on that early success, the program is now transitioning into its own nonprofit organization, Culinary Training Academy, Inc. (CTA), which will expand the training and employment opportunities developed through this project.

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why stroopwafels?

​​Especially Stroopwafels began with a simple question:
"What kind of work is meaningful, real, and welcoming—and also joyful?"

Stroopwafels offered a compelling answer.

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In the Netherlands, fresh stroopwafels are a familiar sight at farmers markets and public gatherings. They are made in front of customers, enjoyed warm, and associated with everyday moments of connection. The process is hands-on, rhythmic, and well suited to learning through repetition and teamwork.

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Stroopwafels are handmade, approachable, and widely loved. Making them requires care, collaboration, and pride in a finished product—without unnecessary complexity. They naturally invite conversation, curiosity, and community engagement.

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That combination makes stroopwafels an ideal way to create meaningful job opportunities for young adults with disabilities.

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the bigger picture

In the Waunakee area, many students with disabilities participate in strong school-based transition programs that teach life and workplace skills. But once those programs end, meaningful employment opportunities can be hard to find.

Especially Stroopwafels exists to help bridge that gap.

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By operating a small, real bakery business, we provide opportunities that go beyond simulation or practice. Our crew members are doing actual work, producing a product people genuinely want, and interacting with the community in visible, valued ways.

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learning by doing

Our crew members learn through hands-on experience:

• Working in a licensed commercial kitchen

• Following recipes and food-safety procedures

• Packaging and preparing products for sale

• Participating in community events and retail partnerships

 

Each task builds confidence, routine, and transferable skills. Progress looks different for every person, and that’s okay—the goal is meaningful participation, not speed or perfection.

 

community involvement

Especially Stroopwafels is a local initiative, supported by families, educators, and community partners who believe that inclusion works best when it happens in everyday places.

You’ll find our stroopwafels at local cafés, shops, events, and community programs—not separate from the community, but part of it.

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Every stroopwafel sold supports training, connection, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to contribute in a way that matters.

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more than a treat

Yes, stroopwafels are delicious.
But for us, they’re also a tool—for learning, for connection, and for building a more inclusive local economy.

That’s why we make them.​