HCE High School Intern Thrives at Clark's So Delicious Ice Cream Shop

CLARK, NJ — Until March 2024, So Delicious Ice Cream, located at 152 Central Ave. in Clark, had never employed a person with a disability before, according to owner John Samsel of the family-owned small business. But that changed when Samsel met with Hudson Community Enterprises (HCE) and learned about its new internship program for students with disabilities. Then, Zi’Nayiah “Zi” Warren arrived to the ice cream shop.

“I was really excited to have this opportunity for an internship with a Deaf person,” said Samsel. “I wasn't sure how it was going to work and how she was going to serve the clientele. But you know what I believe in? Everybody deserves a chance, and we wanted to give that chance to her.”

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With assistance from a job coach and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, Zi undertook her internship at the ice cream shop this spring, with a new procedure put in place for hearing customers to write their orders on a white board. The team at So Delicious were incredibly supportive, said Zi.

“So, the people here at work, oh my goodness, they're such a great support and very friendly,” said Zi. “If I need any help, they're really good at communicating with me. I've shown them some sign language, like the sign for ‘help’ if I need it.”

The team at So Delicious was so inspired by Zi that they decided to host an ice cream social for the Deaf community on Memorial Day Weekend.

“That was a lot of fun,” said Samsel. “The community, the job coaches, interpreters. . . . [T]hey put the event together. It was fabulous to see people come from all over supporting Zi.”

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For a video of Zi during her internship at So Delicious, click here .

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So Delicious, Clark's Newest Ice Cream Shop, is Appropriately Named

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