EARN IT Launches Ability Blend Sales

After months of preparation, EARN IT students launched sales of IDS’s signature roast “Ability Blend” at the USM Holiday Maker’s Market hosted by the Union. EARN IT students were joined by IDS staff, Luckyday scholars, and volunteers from Dr. Joanne Tran’s MKT 365 class for this historic event.

Ability Blend first made its public debut at a series of coffee tasting events hosted by IDS earlier this fall. Eventgoers representing the greater Pine Belt area were encouraged to vote on their favorite of several different coffees served. This special blend from Papua New Guinea rose as the ultimate crowd pleaser. Students in the EARN IT program worked diligently to master not only the roasting process, but also quality control, packaging, and inventory management to ensure the coffee’s success. By the end of the Holiday Maker’s Market, students were SOLD OUT of coffee!

EARN IT launched as a pilot program for the 2025-26 academic year with 6 program participants. IDS is proud to partner with USM’s College of Business and Economic Development as the service site for Dr. Tran’s MKT 365 class. At the start of the fall semester, upper-level undergraduates majoring in business and marketing were tasked with helping EARN IT brand and market products created by program participants. Stay tuned as the College of Business and Economic Development will be releasing details soon about this exciting collaboration!

IDS staff are on the hunt for locations to stock Ability Blend year-round for public purchase. If you or someone you know is interested in helping fuel futures, one cup at a time, please reach out to Amy James at amyjames@usm.edu or 601-266-4435.

EARN IT is a program administered by the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) that paves a pathway towards entrepreneurship for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities through the advancement of resources, networking, independence, and training.

Program participants learn to master various entrepreneurial specialties including, but not limited to, roasting coffee, specialty coffee preparation, 3-D printing, laser engraving, photography, videography, crochet, graphic design, sales transaction handling, print media production, and branding. Through departmental collaborations across the Southern Miss campus and broader business partnerships within the greater Pine Belt region, EARN IT participants learn the benefits of professional networking and leveraging resources. As participants progress through skills training of individual entrepreneurial specialties, they are challenged to expand their artistry by completing independent projects that reflect their personal ambition. After participants exhibit independence in mastering their specialty, they are offered leadership roles within the program to help others achieve their goals.

For more information about EARN IT, contact Amy James, Executive Coordinator for Philanthropy and Development, at 601-266-4435 or amyjames@usm.edu.