by Megan Diane Beatty • megan@lhtxdigest.com photos courtesy Christine Stilwell
We are Jam-i-ly
CELEBRATING LIBERTY HILL'S JELLY MAN
W
hen you walk into Life Church in Leander, the provocative aroma of fresh fruit and peppers fills your nose and a cheerfully sung “We. Are. Jam-i-ly!” bursts from the church's kitchen. Nolan Stilwell, the Jam Man, and his team are stirring up their seasonal Holiday Heat jam—a unique and enticing flavor combination of cranberries, jalapenos, and citrus. Nolan founded Sweet Heat Jam after he graduated high school in Katy, TX. He is a culinary artist, young entrepreneur, avid gardener, and native Texan who happens to have Down syndrome.
10
D E C E M B E R 2021 LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T
THE BEGINNING In 2011, Nolan’s mother Christine was a grant writer for ARTreach, a nonprofit organization offering programs that promote social skills development, education, and life skills for individuals with special needs. She approached her executive director and pointed out; “We have programs for visual arts and performing arts, but we have nothing for culinary arts. There is a niche of young adults with special needs, who have good skill sets that only require a nurturing environment.” After receiving a grant to create the program and reaching out to other families, Christine's new program became so successful that it grew legs of its own—Sweet Heat Jam was born.
