Cypress Park High School VITAL students serve coffee to teachers as part of their coffee cart enterprise, which helps develop job readiness, communication and social skills through hands-on learning. (Photo by Sama Abudhhir, Cypress Park HS)
Dec. 3, 2025—At Cypress Park High School, the VITAL Life Skills Program is serving up more than just coffee; it’s giving lessons in independence, teamwork and community. The program’s coffee cart combines practical learning with a fun, engaging experience that celebrates the hard work of young adults preparing for life beyond high school.
Each year the VITAL program hosts several “enterprises,” or student-led projects that stimulate real workplace experiences. These initiatives are designed to help students develop job readiness, communication and social skills through hands-on learning. Taryn Crowe-Harris, a Cypress Park VITAL program leader, explained that these projects play a key role in helping students build confidence while learning how to function successfully in professional settings…