Community Highlights: Meet Chrystal Austin of Real-Life Works, Thrift

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrystal Austin.

Hi Chrystal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
This store was created for the sole purpose of creating an environment for Adults with Autism and Intellectual Developmental Disabilities. A safe place to work and interact with a variety of our vast community. This population is underserved and underemployed.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have to build a community. Our location is not in an ideal population so people have to really want to come to our store to shop and support our mission. A lot of companies do not give to small local businesses so we have to really try and promote ourselves and get people to come and shop because that’s where our revenue is coming from.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Real-Life Works, Thrift?
We’re a thrift store that employs Adults with Autism

What were you like growing up?
I’m an artist in my heart and spirit but life took me somewhere else.

Contact Info:

• Website: Real-lifeworks.org
• Instagram: @Reallifeworksthrift
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reallifeworksnc
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/real-life-thrift-raleigh