Local Mother And Son Using Entrepreneurship And Caring To Help Others
(All Images submitted: Above – Ezra and Tanya with Hot Dog Cart)
There is a brand new business venture being launched in Clarion… E-Z Dogs, under the co-ownership of Tanya Brooks and her son Ezra.
https://www.facebook.com/ezdogs2022
This new venture is an outgrowth of a mother’s love for her 20 year old son, who has Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21, and the mother and son’s desire to help others with Trisomy 21.
The impetus for this new endeavor is actually years in the making, with many different facets. Tanya mentioned, “So we’ve been kind of throwing this idea around for several years, for once he finished high school so we just went for it.” But the desire to help out another person who serves others with Trisomy 21 in Africa, is what finally brought it to fruition.
Tanya shared that it began about six months ago, when she was following someone on social media. “I follow an account on Instagram for a lady who advocates for individuals with Trisomy 21 in Nigeria. They were looking for financial aid so that this child, who was two years old at the time, could get heart surgery. He needed it since he was three months old, so he was way overdue. So I got in touch with her and I started raising money here for him to have his heart surgery. We raised, I think $5,000 or something so he was able to get his surgery.”
“I thought’ how can I continue to help him.’ So the cart idea… I thought that would be a great way for us to contribute. A portion of the proceeds would go toward the patients in Nigeria, to help children with heart issues get surgery when they need it.”
Tanya mentioned that children with Down Syndrome are more likely to have heart issues, which are typically diagnosed prenatally. She mentioned that this child was probably not diagnosed until after his birth.
She shared, “There are organizations out there that help children in other countries, in developing countries, to get heart surgeries and things like that, but there’s none that support Nigeria… I really felt a good rapport with the woman that runs the organization over there, so I really wanted to highlight her on Facebook, Instagram and social media and things like that to help get the word out about the work that she does, which is just phenomenal, early intervention and education programs for children with Trisomy 21 in Lagos, Nigeria (the nation’s capital). People with Down Syndrome there are looked down upon. So she really advocates for them, to get them involve in everything.”
Ezra and Tanya joined forces in May, with funds left over from Ezra’s high school graduation and Tanya contributing, they were able to find an affordable cart that was up for sale in Pittsburgh.
Tanya drove to Pittsburgh to sign the paperwork for the purchase. And as it turned out, the seller owned a camp in Leeper and he delivered it himself.
E-Z Dogs “will offer delicious gourmet hotdogs, using local farm to table ingredients and family favorite recipes!”
With this venture, Ezra becomes possibly the first person in Clarion County with Trisomy 21 or intellectual disability to own a business.
The duo have targeted the middle to end of August for the cart to be up and running. for the cart to be up and running, with procuring permits expected to take four to six weeks.
The cart may be a new venture. But Ezra is no stranger to food service and many of its intricacies. Tanya mentioned, “Ezra started baking with me… They started Cool Cats Coffee Cart at the high school for the learning support classroom. He was one of the first people to do that, so he was able to bake and take care of the kitchen, to make lemonade. He’s really excited about making lemonade. I guess he’s famous for his lemonade up there. He did that for six years at the high school. So we’ve been kind of throwing this idea around for several years, for once he finished high school so we just went for it.”
The teachers who worked with Ezra and other with the Cool Cats Coffee Cart include Mrs. Julie Johnson, Mrs. Meghan Johnson and Mrs. Jessica Davis.
The caption for the image above, in the November 8, 2018 article on “Cool Cats Coffee” in the Clarion News mentioned that the students deliver the teachers “hot drinks and some food every Friday morning… (and) the business is part of the students’ Core Skills class and teaches them skills in business, money management and food safety and prep.”
Tanya emphasized, “Ezra is just a typical kid who happens to have Trisomy 21. He has some challenges that come with that, but besides that, he’s just a typical twenty year old. He wants to be loved and accepted for who he is and he wants to be a part of society. He wants to be a valued part of society.
“From the time he was born, I just treated him like I do Prince (Tanya’s older son and Ezra’s brother). I have the same expectations for him. Obviously there are some limitations. There are things he won’t be able to do, for his own safety. But definitely, if there are things he can do to contribute to society and such, I want him to be able to do it.”
What will Ezra’s duties involve? Tanya stated “The plan is for Ezra to be an integral part of every aspect of the business according to his capabilities. Ezra is very particular, and confident, when it comes to cooking, baking and customer service and I believe E-Z Dogs will only enhance his skills. Ezra definitely knows what he likes and how he wants things done. I chose hotdogs as a starter business, because it’s a simple concept that he can practice, master, and continue to develop.”
Tanya shared something about Ezra’s drive and the great examples he’s seen of individuals with Down Syndrome who have businesses. “He believes he can do anything and he can, as long as it’s a realistic goal for him and owning a business is one of those things he can do! He’s had many examples from other individuals with Down Syndrome in the United States who own food Trucks, bakeries, cafe’s, clothing companies and more. Individuals with Down Syndrome are making their own way and creating a new narrative. I like to say ‘SEE THE ABILITY’ because there is value in all human life, and it’s about the individual and not their diagnosis.”
And what can folks expect when they visit E-Z Dogs? “Ezra has strong social skills which I believe will be an asset to his business. It won’t just be a hotdog cart, but, hopefully, a complete experience, that people will appreciate and want to come back for more. Ezra is as genuine as they come. He is a light and he loves people. Hopefully, people will leave, with not only a full belly, but a new perspective for individuals with Down Syndrome.”
There are numerous individuals and businesses who have contributed to the venture via a special Venmo account etc.
Link to contribute:
Among items donated were the ball and hitch and the umbrella for the cart.
Ezra has had a hand in the design for the E-Z Dogs logo, which will have special significance for Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21.
Tanya shared, “Ezra brought home a couple of art pieces in the sixth grade and I always wanted to do something with them. One is a painting of hearts. They are pink, red and white and I am going to make them blue, white and yellow, because that is the Trisomy 21 colors. That’s what I want to get put on the umbrella. I’ve always looked at that painting and said ‘I want to get something done with that logo for Ezra and so now I’m so excited that it is going to happen.’ “
Tanya, who is Clarion County Special Olympics Volunteer Coordinator and Basketball Coach, has been involved with Ezra and many other Special Olympics athletes over the years.
This has been very instrumental to Ezra’s well rounded life. She shared, “Ezra has also won several gold and silver medals at Special Olympics basketball regionals at Carnegie Mellon, for individual skills and he hopes to make it to the USA Olympic Games in Minnesota in 2026 for basketball or powerlifting.“
Ezra trains in powerlifting at Forrell Barbell, with personal trainer and uncle Eain Brooks, who trains many clients of varying ages and abilities, guiding him. Just last week, Ezra achieved his personal record on the bench press at 135 pounds.
Ezra played basketball for Clarion Area from sixth through twelfth grade (taking his 9th grade season off due to health issues). He enjoyed being member of the Bobcat Basketball team and to him, his teammates are super heroes. One of Ezra’s teammates, now U.S. Army Private First Class Hunter Craddock, currently stationed in South Korea with the Army sent a Venmo donation for Ezra’s business.
Ever willing to help others, Ezra is also a member of the Clarion Volunteer Fire Department, a dream of his since he was ten. He believes he can do anything and he can, as long as it’s a realistic goal for him and owning a business is one of those things he can do! He’s had many examples from other individuals with DS in the United States who own food Trucks, bakeries, cafe’s, clothing companies and more. Individuals with DS are making their own way and creating a new narrative. I like to say ” SEE THE ABILITY” because there is value in all human life, and it’s about the individual and not their diagnosis.
Tanya has been an Athlete Ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), which advocates for the human rights of ALL individuals with Down Syndrome, for seven years. Athlete Ambassadors use their social media platforms to raise money, and advocate for individuals with Down Syndrome while promoting health and wellness.
Tanya’s passion for helping with Down Syndrome citizens also led her to take part in the challenging Run for 321 in 2019. In the three days, Tanya ran over twenty-four miles. She mentioned that it was the most grueling thing she had ever done. I’m sure her teammates would attest to that. The event is held every year, in conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), March 21st, which has been officially observed every year since 2012, by the United Nations, as a celebration and global awareness day.
Another interesting note: Ezra’s full name is Ezra Jordan. It means “Salvation Flowing Down.” Ezra and Tanya have an Instagram page called “Flowing Down,” which promotes health and wellness for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families. The page can be accessed on Instagram using the username Flowing-down.
As a highlight, Tanya interviewed Ezra, for this article:
How do you feel about opening a business? Excited! Feels Great!
What are your favorite hotdogs? I like ketchup, mustard, fried potatoes, baked beans. It’s my papa’s favorite meal and my mom put it all on her hot dog, so I do too. Taste good!
Do you think people will like it? YEP! I like taco dogs too!
How do you make a taco dog? Cheese, chorizo, cilantro(no avocado, my mom likes avocado), and chips.
What else do you enjoy making? My lemonade. I make it for Cool Cats at high school. Everyone like my lemonade recipe. I put lemons first, sugar second, stir it third.
What else do you like to make? I like to bake cookies, Oreo balls & buckeyes. My mom bakes all the time. She makes cupcakes, cookies, everything. And my teachers, Ms. Julie Johnson, Ms. Megan Johnson, Ms. Katie, Ms. Gribik, Ms. Davis. They my teachers.
Do you miss them? Yes, I do. They’re nice to me. They miss me at Cool Cats.
So, what are the long term goals for E-Z Dogs? Tanya and Ezra hope to someday purchase a Food Truck and employ other individuals with special needs, providing them with a reasonable wage.
What a wonderful way for this mother and son team and others who will be involved to pay it forward.
Congratulations on this marvelous undertaking!!!!
Link to Venmo to contribute to this great cause:
Link to Morainbow Down Syndrome Foundation:
Morainbow Down syndrome Foundation
