A Comforting Cup of Blue: How Café Azul Builds Community, One Family at a Time

"Educate. Inspire. Motivate."  That’s the heart behind Café Azul Tx Autism, a vibrant community organization founded by Angel and Giset King to support and empower families navigating the autism journey—especially those in Spanish-speaking and bilingual communities. Born from their own parenting experience, Café Azul offers more than resources—it offers connection, compassion, and a sense of belonging. In this special interview, the Kings share how their personal story sparked a powerful movement of hope and healing.

1. What inspired you to start Café Azul? How has your own autism parenting journey shaped the vision of your organization?

Cafe Azul Tx Autism was created in response to a pressing need within the Spanish-speaking community—a need for support and education provided in their own language. What began as a small support group quickly grew into a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and uplifting families. While we initially focused on providing resources in Spanish, we soon received requests from other communities. Recognizing the broader need, we became a bilingual organization.

Both Angel and I are educators. We believe that knowledge is power. We seek to empower special needs caregivers in their parenting journey. When our daughter, Kayra, was diagnosed, it was an incredibly challenging and lonely time. Our family lived miles away, and none of our friends knew anything about autism. We spent our weekends attending parent training sessions, but even with education, we didn’t have a supportive community around us.

So when we created Cafe Azul Tx Autism, we wanted to do more than just share information. We wanted to foster a community that educates, inspires, and motivates caregivers, ensuring they know they’re not alone.

Our motto is educate, inspire, motivate—and that’s exactly what we strive to do every day.

2. What do you hope Café Azul offers to families and individuals in the autism community?

We’re more than just an organization; we’re a community that believes in the power of education, support, and connection. At Cafe Azul Tx Autism, we offer sensory-friendly events that create a space where everyone feels included. We provide parent training and share valuable community information, but what truly sets us apart is the one-on-one support we give to families navigating unique challenges—whether it’s potty training, puberty, or an upcoming ARD meeting.

Our parent training goes deeper than just teaching how to care for a loved one with autism. They’re about nurturing the whole family—helping caregivers find strength, learn about self-care, and navigate the challenges that come with raising a child with special needs. We understand how much this journey can impact not just your daily life, but your relationships, your marriage, and your sense of hope.

Because at the heart of Cafe Azul Tx Autism is the belief that no family should ever feel alone. We’re here to walk beside you—educating, inspiring, and motivating—every step of the way.

3. What has been one of your most memorable or meaningful moments since opening?

In our six years of serving this incredible community, it’s so hard to choose just one memory. But I’ll never forget our first virtual conference during the pandemic. We came together as we were navigating so much uncertainty and isolation. The messages from parents afterwards—telling us how they felt seen, supported, and empowered—moved me to tears. It reminded me of why we do this.

Another moment that’s especially close to my heart was one of our Moms’ Night Out events. Watching these beautiful women talking, laughing, and connecting—taking time for themselves, something they so rarely get to do—was such a gift. Seeing them fill their cups, even for just a little while, and knowing we created that space for them… it was truly magical. Moments like these are what keep me going every single day.

4. What message would you like to share with other families navigating the autism journey?

We want other families to know they are not alone on this journey. We want to empower them to advocate for their loved ones and help them see the beauty in the diversity around us. Our special needs children are different, but they are not less. At Cafe Azul Tx Autism, we educate and inspire parents, but we also teach them to celebrate the small joys along the way—no matter how small they might seem.

We want to be there for them, to offer comfort and hope. Cafe Azul means “blue coffee,” and just like a comforting cup of coffee brings warmth, energy, and focus, we hope to bring that same comfort and support to parents’ souls. We’re here to be that steady presence in their special needs journey, one comforting cup at a time.