Whitwell native honored at Tennessee Tech for local nonprofits

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Whitwell native, Cigi England, was honored alongside her husband Michael as Grand Marshals for the 2023 homecoming parade at Tennessee Tech University.

She graduated from the university in 2006 and has developed various local businesses in Cookeville since then.

Cigi and Michael England honored at Tennessee Tech as 2023 Homecoming Grand Marshals. Photo taken by Nick Fantasia with Tennessee Technological University.

“I graduated from Tennessee Tech in 2006 in the Human Ecology department. I moved to Atlanta, and I was really lacking community. Because growing up, in the Sequatchie Valley [in Whitwell]  I had my church family, I had my school peeps, and just everybody knew each other. I moved back to Cookeville nine years ago. I opened my boutique, and through my boutique I got really involved in the community– really specifically in the special needs community… volunteering at different nonprofits. We began to notice there was a need for a sense of community within that population,” England said.

Popular nonprofit, the Exceptional Bean, is just one of the initiatives the couple has created to provide opportunities for those with disabilities.

“We want to showcase what people can do. Not what they can’t,” Cigi England said.

The Exceptional Bean has impacted many members of the Cookeville community in its first year of service.

The coffee shop has employed over 30 individuals with disabilities.

It was nicknamed ‘The Bean’ by many members of the community.

“Every community needs an Exceptional Bean. And we hope to grow over the next few years. We just turned one. So we’re going to grow and we can’t do that without support,” England said.

The Whitwell native moved to Cookeville over nine years ago to open a boutique.

She has made intentional connections with members of the community.

Through Cigi’s Boutique, she has developed, The Exceptional Bean, and CS Candle Company that offer opportunities to those with disabilities.

Sequatchie native, Bailey Ricketts, has worked for her nearly a year and has been instrumental in facilitating the candle company.

“I was very inspired by Cigi England, because she is from a neighboring county [Marion and Sequatchie]. I really love working for CS Candle Company. It’s a really great, inspiring opportunity and job,” Ricketts said.

The company has various scents inspired by local favorites and even celebrities such as Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift.

CS Candle Company is currently working with local school fundraisers as well.

Ricketts went on to explain the mission behind these businesses: “It’s just rewarding. They can do whatever they want to do despite having a disability. I think it’s really important that everybody can be shown that message.”

England also explained her hope for these initiatives: “It’s not about us, it’s about showcasing what we do here. And the attention, and the opportunity to share with my hometown [Whitwell], about what we’re doing and how you can help and how you can join us.”

The Englands received the Alumni of the Year award at Tennessee Tech for their work in the community.

They hope to inspire others to create opportunities for those who are in need of support.

“Just being the Grand Marshals of the parade, receiving this award is huge, and we’re so grateful to showcase not us, not Michael and I, but to showcase The Exceptional Bean… And our wonderful employees, and our wonderful community that we live in,” England said.

The nonprofit is looking for monthly donors to help keep the establishment going.

Throughout the shop, there are plaques honoring those who donated to make the nonprofit possible.

England says there are hundreds of applicants they are not currently able to employ, and want to urge other businesses to see how they can help individuals with disabilities.

You can visit The Exceptional Bean for more information on how you can get involved.