Building Community Through Purpose: Jaynes Supports Deaf Entrepreneurs at PAH! Hiland Plaza

Jaynes has long believed that construction is more than just buildings. Jaynes also builds communities.

That belief came to life recently through the leadership of Jaynes employee Jonatan Diaz, who volunteered his time and expertise to help the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico (DCCNM) bring its entrepreneurial vision to life inside PAH! Hiland Plaza.

DCCNM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community through social, cultural, and educational events and is located at PAH! Hiland Plaza in Albuquerque is a facility built by Jaynes Corporation.

PAH! Hiland Plaza is DCCNM’s HQ. It’s a specialized, 92-unit mixed-use affordable housing community specifically designed for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing communities. Located on Route 66, it features American Sign Language (ASL) fluent staff, visual alert systems (strobes, doorbells), and was developed in partnership with the DCCNM.

Click the DCCNM logo to visit their website.

DCCNM had approached Jaynes about transforming one of their spaces into a coffee shop. The shop will be located on the first floor of the PAH! Hiland Plaza apartment complex. This will become a Deaf-operated coffee shop as part of their new Deaf Entrepreneurial Program.

Jonatan, an Assistant Estimator at Jaynes, stepped forward and worked pro bono, coordinating estimating, scheduling, and subcontractor collaboration to help kick off the project with the same rigor and craftsmanship Jaynes brings to every build.

In case you’re wondering, the name “PAH!” comes from the ASL Sign for “finally” or “success,” representing the 20-year effort by the DCCNM to realize this project. PAH! Hiland Plaza was developed by Sol Housing, designed by Hartman + Majewski Design Group, and built by Jaynes Corporation, in collaboration with DCCNM members, to ensure accessibility for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing individuals.

Meet Jonatan Diaz, Jaynes Assistant Project Estimator.

Through months of collaboration with the DCCNM team, Jonatan came to understand the coffee shop project as more than just an office improvement; it was to become a training ground where Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals could gain real-world business experience and professional confidence. His deep engagement with the community led to a uniquely rewarding experience, symbolized by DCCNM members giving him his own ASL sign name, “JJ.”

“It was something I could go home and feel good about,” Jonatan said. “Knowing we were doing the right thing and helping enable others, it makes you take more pride in your work.”

The project is a reflection of Jaynes’ broader mission: to build with purpose and support initiatives that make New Mexico stronger, more inclusive, and more connected. PAH! Hiland Plaza, constructed by Jaynes in collaboration with Sol Housing and DCCNM, stands today as one of only five Deaf-friendly communities of its kind in the nation, providing accessible, affordable housing and a model for empowerment through innovative facility design.

DCCNM’s Deaf Entrepreneurial Program continues that mission by supporting emerging Deaf entrepreneurs in developing and achieving their business goals through a direct-language model. Participants will be guided by a Deaf Manager/Mentor who provides culturally and linguistically accessible support throughout the entrepreneurial process. The Coffee shop will serve as a hands-on training and sales space. DCCNM is collaborating with community-based business incubator programs to provide additional training and supportive learning opportunities.

Join Jaynes in continuing to build opportunities with DCCNM.

Donate today to help get the coffee shop up and running. The Deaf Entrepreneurial Program at DCCNM is in the early stages, and funding will support start-up costs, operations, signage, coffee shop equipment, and outdoor seating modifications. Click here to donate.

Here are the details: The Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard-of-Hearing community represents one of the largest underserved cultural-linguistic populations in the United States. Historically seen as individuals who “can’t” drive, be parents, work in the front of the store, or own their own business. The DCCNM’s Deaf Entrepreneurial Program leverages the Deaf community’s own ability to grow from within. Developing the Entrepreneur’s hard and soft skills, along with opportunities to showcase their culinary skills, is necessary for success in operating their own business, helping advance the Deaf community towards a future in which generational wealth can be realized.

Your donations to the Deaf Entrepreneurial Program will go towards:

• Hiring a Deaf Manager/Mentor to run the program
• Operational and start-up costs
• Specialized signage for the coffee shop and upgrades to the outdoor seating space
• Grand Prize for the contest to name the coffee shop (The winner and name will be announced in May 2026).

Through your contributions, you become part of a community committed to expanding opportunities and economic growth for Deaf entrepreneurs in Albuquerque. Your support helps reduce employment barriers and builds a more inclusive and resilient local community.

Jaynes is a sponsor of DCCNM If you are able, you can donate here.