We Make Expands its Vision with a New Culinary Partnership

We Make continues to grow and expand to more communities in New Jersey, and just added a new culinary program with Brick Farm Tavern.

Hopewell, NJ—As We Make: Autism at Work continues to expand its footprint across New Jersey, the organization is launching a bold and exclusive new chapter at its Pennington location. This new program will blend purpose, partnership, and innovation. In late September, We Make entered into an exclusive partnership with Otto and Maria Zizak, owners and proprietors of the Hopewell Hospitality Group, which includes Brick Farm Tavern, The Brick Farm of the Sourland Mountains, and Hopewell Fare (formerly Brick Farm Market.) The two entities are working together to introduce a groundbreaking culinary and community partnership that integrates farm-to-table training, community engagement, healthy living, and meaningful inclusion.

This collaboration was developed exclusively with We Make and represents the first inclusionary workforce development initiative within the Hopewell Hospitality family. The partnership will feature three core elements: Inclusionary Fare, the Community Garden, and a Weekly Pop-Up Experience, each designed to connect purpose with practice and inclusion with impact!

Together, We Make and the Zizaks are not just coining a new term, “Inclusionary Fare,” they are bringing it to life through action, defining a movement toward true representation and inclusion within the culinary world. The initiative opens pathways for individuals with autism and developmental differences to participate fully in the art, science, and community of food. At a recent tour of the Brick Farm Tavern kitchen and restaurant, Otto Zizak excitedly explained, “True world integration is not artificial; we will make sure this collaboration will succeed because of our sense of purpose and without anyone feeling this culinary employment program is staged.” The We Make participants will be fully integrated into the Brick Farm team and will work alongside the culinary director, two executive sous chefs, and all the other restaurant employees. Otto added, “Hospitality is not what happens to you, it is for you!” His leadership as a longtime successful restaurateur is infectious as he explained the vision.

At the heart of this exclusive partnership is Inclusionary Fare itself and will become a daily feature on the Brick Farm Tavern menu, where the items created by We Make’s culinary teams will be highlighted. Participants will take part in preparing handcrafted items made from scratch, such as empanadas, pierogies, sausage, mozzarella, ice cream, and more, all showcasing the creativity, care, and craftsmanship that define both We Make and the Brick Farm brand. These dishes won’t just feed guests; they’ll tell a story of inclusion, skill, and shared humanity.

The second element, the Community Garden and Greenhouse, will be located in Hopewell on Brick Farm Tavern’s historic 50-acre property, nestled in the scenic Sourland Mountains. The estate, with deep agricultural roots, sustainable practices, and carefully preserved architecture, has long been a destination for exceptional dining experiences rooted in local flavor and craftsmanship. Through this partnership, participants will not only learn what farm-to-table means within a restaurant, but also experience how farm-to-table happens. From cultivating and harvesting produce to preparing it for service, the entire holistic practice will encompass the curriculum. The garden will supply ingredients directly to Brick Farm Tavern while also serving additional communities including local schools and senior facilities to food-insecure neighborhoods across the region. By cultivating and sharing the harvest, We Make aims to nourish both body and spirit and will create bridges through food, inclusion, and shared purpose.

Rounding out the partnership is the Weekly Pop-Up Experience, where participants will bring their creations directly to the community — blending service, hospitality, and customer engagement with an opportunity to educate, inspire, and wow guests through hands-on interaction. The Pop-Up will serve as a living classroom, allowing participants to showcase their talents while deepening the community’s appreciation for inclusion, culinary excellence, and connection.

This new culinary expansion marks a powerful resurgence of a vision first sparked in 2020, when We Make partnered with acclaimed chefs Kwame Onwuachi and Jeremiah Josey to host a virtual culinary tutorial during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. That experience highlighted the connection between creativity, confidence, and community in the kitchen. In essence, it planted seeds that, six years later, have blossomed into a full-scale culinary and wellness program.

“There is an old saying from the 19th Century that the way to a person’s heart is often through their stomach, so by that same path, we will try and open minds and understanding that persons with autism are valuable members of our society,” said Moe Siddiqu, Founding Executive Director of We Make. “Through Inclusionary Fare, we’re showing how individuals with autism can thrive as integral members of vibrant, community-driven establishments that nourish and connect people.”

Tony Lesenskyj, We Make’s Founder and Board Chairperson chimed in by stating, “When autistic young adults are given opportunities on a farm or in a fine-dining restaurant, they don’t just contribute—they thrive. On the farm, they find grounding and structure in nature’s rhythms, where tending plants or caring for animals provides both purpose and calm. In the restaurant, they bring extraordinary attention to detail, consistency, and pride in their work, qualities that elevate service at the highest levels. These settings show the world that inclusion is not charity—it is an investment in human potential that enriches the workplace and the community alike.”

Maria Zizak, is a gentle communicator and one of those persons who speaks infrequently, but when she does, the whole table listens…Maria stated, “We are going to all work together as valuable members of society. There should no longer be waiting lists for services, everyone deserves a chance to work and contribute.” Zizak added context to the broader importance of inclusion in industry and society, noting that the data underscores just how critical this work is. The United Nations estimates that 80% of adults with autism are unemployed, as discriminatory hiring practices and workplace environments often present impossible challenges for neurodivergent people to overcome. The numbers are quite shocking compared to unemployment rates for all people with disabilities (about 69%) and for the general population (43%). Job interviews and traditional hiring screening processes can be extremely challenging to neurodivergent and autistic people, as adjusting to a new workplace might require time and support.

Austin Fellows, An employee for over five years and We Make’s Director of Operations stated, "We are excited for the partnership with Otto and Brick Farm Tavern. It's another opportunity for our group to showcase their skills to the community and to have a fulfilling experience."

The same characteristics that can make individuals with autism exceptionally successful in the workplace — extreme focus, accuracy, innovative thinking — often bar them from entering the workforce in the first place. Fostering acceptance of neurodivergent people in society requires a conceptual shift and discernment from a deficit-based model to a strength-based model, looking at the particular skills of individuals with autism and how those can contribute in positive ways to the workplace. This shift is exactly where We Make thrives and where they have experienced growth and success.

This exclusive partnership complements the organization’s expanded program offerings at its Pennington site, which now include vocational development, technology and life immersion, cultural arts, social-emotional wellness, physical wellbeing, and financial literacy. These experiences, combined with community engagement opportunities and holistic supports for individuals and families, reflect We Make’s whole-person approach to growth, empowerment, and sustainable inclusion.

Siddiqu added, “Our mission has always been to achieve industry inclusion and to prove that individuals with autism can excel in every corner of the workforce. We began by setting a standard in manufacturing, packaging, and assembly, and now we’re extending that same spirit into the culinary and hospitality fields. This is inclusion in action and it is rooted in purpose, fueled by passion, and shared with our community, a community that grows daily because of our mission-driven work.”

We Make is redefining what inclusion looks like one job, one meal, and one relationship at a time. A formal ribbon cutting will take place during We Make’s Harvest Under the Stars celebration and fundraiser on the evening of Sunday, November 2nd, at Brick Farm Tavern in Hopewell, NJ. This five-course dining experience that will showcase the very dishes and spirit of Inclusionary Fare. Tickets are available now through Eventbrite at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1...

To learn more about We Make and to support We Make in their efforts to continue to provide employment options and opportunities to persons with autism and/or a developmental disability, visit their website.

Link to website: https://wemake.works