Inspiration from the World

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Category: Inspiration from the World

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Wed
Apr17

Written by Emma Voigt • April 17, 2013

In the midst of an economic recession, the task of providing social services to an underserved population is growing more and more daunting. In some census tracts on the Northside, the poverty rate is as high as 30%. Homeboy Industries, in Los Angeles, California, tackles a similarly heavy task. In 1988 Father Greg Boyle founded Homeboy Industries to address the need for youth employment opportunities. Their work continues to impact the lives of young people throughout Los Angeles.

Currently, Los Angeles County is home to 34% of California’s poor, and 75% of youth gang homicides in the state occur here. The Homeboy organization focuses on formerly gang-involved and incarcerated men and women. Their model combines a range of services including: employment services—job preparation and placement; mental health services—individual therapy, substance abuse counseling, and group classes; legal services; curriculum and education—GED preparation, and a partnership with Learning Works! (a program that specializes in the education of young people); Solar Panel Training and Installation—preparing students to take a national certification test; and a charter high school offering life skills and enrichment classes.

Twenty-five percent of the funding for Homeboy’s services comes from its seven social enterprises, which include: Homeboy Bakery, Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery, Homegirl Café & Catering, Homeboy/girl Merchandise, Homeboy Farmers’ Market, Homeboy Diner at Los Angeles City Hall, and Homeboy Grocery (distributing products through regional grocery chains). In 2012, the businesses were estimated to bring in about $3,500,000 per year. By providing employees with a living wage, they are able to provide for their families while learning valuable soft and vocational skills. Homeboy employs between 240-280 people per year. As Northside UP works to create a social enterprise, we believe Homeboy Industries’ approach is transferable to other settings.

Homeboy attributes their foundation of success to making programs and opportunities easily accessible for clients—everything takes place in gang-neutral downtown Los Angeles. By keeping all services in one location, clients are more likely to access all Homeboy has to offer, and because they are more engaged, they are more likely to successfully complete programs. In certain parts of the Northside, as many as 36% of residents do not have access to a vehicle. Northside UP plans to focus its initial social enterprise efforts on improving the quality of life for residents of bourgeoning neighborhoods.

Homeboy Industries has found the primary driver for gang-involvement to be lack of alternative options and opportunities. One hundred percent of Homeboy’s clients are low-income, 99.9% are people of color, most have PTSD or complex trauma, most were abused or abandoned as children, all witnessed violence, and most have only an elementary school reading level. Gang-involvement is largely an effect of poverty. Yet, Homeboy points out that to children who must walk through various gang territories to get to school, who have never seen anyone graduate college, or are homeless, “joining a gang does not always seem like a bad (or particularly big) decision.” In order to break the cycle, better options and opportunities need to be made available.

Homeboy provides second chances to those of whom the rest of society has discounted. The organization is an outstanding example of rethinking a flawed system. By engaging in social enterprise, Syracuse can do its part to offer alternative options and opportunities for the underserved in our community. By increasing opportunities, we can reduce costs and drive economic revitalization. Perhaps most importantly, by creating opportunities, we enable the people in our community to make positive life choices that result in positive life changes.

Credit: www.facebook.com/HomeboyIndustries

Wed
Feb27

A Model for the Northside

Written by Emma Voigt • February 27, 2013

The Northside has a unique asset in its diversity. Hundreds of refugees resettle on the Northside each year. These New Americans combine skills, trades, and recipes from their homelands with their new neighbors’ traditions. As a historic point of entry for New Americans, the Northside’s lifelong residents claim heritage from across Europe. Because of its history of diversity, the neighborhood is beginning to attract young, artistic entrepreneurs of every background imaginable.

Northside UP has been developing ways to help this diverse group cultivate their innate entrepreneurial spirit and change the neighborhood by harnessing the power of business. By pairing our existing programming with the simple idea of a traditional bazaar, an idea with far reaching added benefits began to grow. As Northside UP assembled a team of partners to create this shopping experience, we came across the example of the Midtown Global Market (MGM) in Minneapolis, MN. This space illustrates many of our hopes for the Northside market.

MGM began when community groups and local business owners came together to convince city officials to save a long vacant building in 2003. The idea was to create a place that could utilize the formerly vacant property to showcase the neighborhood’s ethnic diversity and entrepreneurial energy. The Neighborhood Development Center, Latin Economic Development Center, and African Development Center worked with other business development partners and advisors to build the vision. Through these partnerships, MGM was able to launch and offer training, technical assistance, lending, and other support for entrepreneurs.

Today, the market houses many diverse businesses including specialty groceries, prepared food, sit-down restaurants, arts, and crafts. A shared commercial kitchen, located in the market, enhances the experience. Professional chefs, caterers, food trucks, and other food manufacturers who need certified space, may use the kitchen for their culinary delights. Access to high quality shared commercial kitchen space helps new and small businesses succeed by cutting overhead costs. The kitchen also offers a growing schedule of cooking classes. Customers can find food prepared in the kitchen along with cookbooks, magazines, kitchen utensils, and chefs’ tools at Kitchen in the Market’s retail store.

Like Syracuse, Minneapolis also resettles a large refugee population each year. Each wave of new Americans brings refreshing ideas to the area. Northside UP sees the marketplace as an ideal means for infusing the business community with new ideas. By incentivizing incubator graduates to locate in vacant storefronts in bourgeoning neighborhoods, they will catalyze ongoing revitalization efforts. It is encouraging to see success stories emerge from other like-minded endeavors. The Northside’s diverse residents add vibrancy to this corner of the city each day. Once they have access to the appropriate support, tools, and opportunities, they will help strengthen our city’s economy.

To learn more about Syracuse’s project, check out the video on the Huffington Post and be sure to vote for Syracuse!

Photo Credit: http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/100374339

Photo Credit: www.ndc-mn.org

Tue
Sep18

Developing Justice

Written by Stephen Aguayo • September 18, 2012

At the present moment, it seems as if our city is the site of an extreme make-over. From new hotels to the adaptive re-use of old hotels to the facility upgrades of our universities, hospitals, shopping centers, and business corridors, anywhere you go there is a good chance of encountering construction projects. Cities all across the country, especially along the rust belt, are reinvesting in their urban cores in an attempt to create a post-industrial identity. And Syracuse is no different, as this once industrial city is becoming a champion for environmental principles and the spirit of collaboration. A renewed focus on urban revitalization can help businesses flourish by attracting new middle-class residents and consumers with expendable income, but an influx of new money may alter a neighborhood’s identity. So, what affect does the rising cost of living have on long-term residents in these neighborhoods?

In Atlanta, Georgia, the FCS Ministry (Focused Community Strategies) has been working in the city’s core for thirty years. When founder Bob Lupton decided to move his family into the city, he quickly became aware of how urban revitalization has the potential to push out current residents. To that end, FCS Ministry was created. This organization focuses on identifying strategic neighborhood residents who can work collectively to foster neighborhood pride and leadership among both long-standing neighbors and newcomers, alike. In addition, FCS is the central link to a web of activity including, but not limited to: an economic development group that operates a market place, bike shop, cafe and refugee crafting group; a nationally recognized youth development program; affordable community housing developers; entrepreneurial assistance; a program to care for older residents; and service opportunities contributing to the overall revitalization efforts. FCS Ministries strives to create a mixed-income community “with both social and spiritual vitality as well as economic viability.” As our city moves forward, we must keep in mind FCS Ministry’s mission and build our community upon a sense of social justice and a respect for our neighbors.

Photo Credit: http://fcsministries.org/

Thu
Sep13

Youths BUILDing Businesses

Written by Stephen Aguayo • September 13, 2012

Our city has a wealth of education advocates and organizations that offer programs for youth. We’re one of the first places in the country to implement a city-wide “Say Yes” program, which helps to eliminate the financial barriers that make college an unattainable dream. But even with easier access to education beyond high school, what makes students want to continue their education? With all of the efforts within our city, it must be noted that every year 1.3 million young people drop out of high school. This is particularly relevant here, as the average four year graduation rate for all New York public schools is 74%, while the Syracuse’s City School District’s has a 52% graduation rate. This educational void hurts communities, making it difficult for individuals to find meaningful employment and creates the need for adult education and workforce training programs.

An organization founded in California is using a familiar driving force to motivate low-income youth to continue their education with the allure of entrepreneurship. BUILD now has satellites in D.C., the Bay Area, and Boston, taking at-risk and vulnerable students into their entrepreneurial training program. This program enrolls students into a credited course that prepares them for the rigors of entrepreneurship. Students, who were once contemplating dropping out of school or had little interest in academics, can now appreciate how learning is a vital component to personal growth. BUILD’s curriculum is designed to guide students through a multi-year program, which culminates during the student’s senior year. Most BUILD graduates go on to college to realize their ambitions. Just as the appeal of entrepreneurship can inspire students, these aspiring entrepreneurs will the skills and potential to give back and affect their own communities.

Tue
Sep04

Healthy Developments

Written by Stephen Aguayo • September 4, 2012

St. Joseph's Hospital Health Cen...
301 Prospect Avenue

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When I first began working at Northside UP, I felt overwhelmed trying to understand the nature of our complex collaborative partnership. It is a true feat when a diverse group of entities are able to work together to address various challenges within our city, be they economic, social, health, or environmental. Across the country many national funders, community development experts, and health field professionals are recognizing how the physical and social environment can greatly affect the health of a community. In this recent article, a Robert Wood Johnson senior fellow explains, “the solutions to health disparities really lie with the domain of community development.” As we identify communities as complex systems, it becomes reasonable to assume a wide variety of individuals and organizations need to engage in collaborative activities to improve the quality of life within them. Here on the Northside we are fortunate to have St. Joe’s, an institution eagerly engaging in and contributing to the revitalization efforts taking place on the Northside. And we’re proud to partner with them and many other local organizations in our work.

Mon
Jul16

Ingenuity Trumps Apathy

Written by Stephen Aguayo • July 16, 2012

The modern world can be depressing, especially as we hear news about mounting economic hardships. But dwelling on the troubles of the world can leave us exhausted and confused, instead we should think of innovative solutions to overcome existing challenges. One of those solutions has been the increased emphasis and support of small businesses, business incubator programs, cooperatives and developing robust local economies. Here in Syracuse many organizations encourage and assist small business growth, but there is always room for more collaborative and innovative ideas to help improve the overall quality of life.

Anyone who has stayed up to date on the World news has heard about the turmoil in Greece, which in many ways makes our political, social, and economic issues seem easier. Before the financial crisis really began to take effect, working for the government was one of the cushiest jobs for Greeks. But today, Greeks young and old have to be more creative to ensure some sense of financial security. Near the city center of Athens, a withering old building has become the home for creative entrepreneurs who are harnessing technology in order to generate financial opportunities in the form of start-up tech companies. As one of the young tech developers said, “When you don’t have a job, that means you have plenty of time…You should do something with that time.” The way Greeks are re-imagining business and work shows a promise for a better future, overcoming freight and apathy by equipping themselves with creativity and passion.

Tue
Jul03

Artistic Inspiration

Written by Stephen Aguayo • July 3, 2012

You may have noticed that the arts have become a vehicle for creative happenings and growth here in Syracuse. Luckily, our city has a rich artistic community that’s been busy creating art parks, neighborhood inspired sculptures, art-bike racks, street paintings that celebrate our history, and even friendly creek protectors. These are just some of the creations from the vibrant art community which is already full of unique galleries, museums, and markets.

Let’s take all of that a step further. Try to imagine artistic social entrepreneurs who harness their creative spirit to reinvent the city’s physical, economic, and cultural landscape. That is what’s happening in Providence, Rhode Island. AS220, the non-profit community arts center, has become a driving force in giving artists the opportunity and means to shape their city. AS220 provides open gallery spaces, performing arts space, youth programming, a print shop, a dark room, a lab to explore the connection of technology and art, creative live/work spaces, and they host numerous workshops and events. As if that was not enough, their Empire Street complex operates FOO(d) Restaurant and the AS220 Bar, which serve locally sourced food and drink. Not only have these venues become local “hot spots”, the restaurant also serves as a culinary training program and paid work experience for youth involved in their arts programming. There is no art for art’s sake here, as this creative organization has become a catalyst for physical and culture growth.

Photos of AS220: shopdowncity.com and news.beloblog.com

Thu
Apr05

Mobile Food

Written by Stephen Aguayo • April 5, 2012

Well-planned cities can act as hubs of activity for entire regions. Syracuse is no different with its many concert venues, theaters, restaurants, museums, and the like. Regardless of this wealth of culture and vibrancy, urban living can disconnect us from the natural world. Because of active citizens, Syracuse is lucky to be home to a plethora of community gardens, green spaces and public parks. We’ve even got an urban food forest in the making. And we’re not alone, as urbanites across the country are sprouting new ideas for urban agriculture and education.

One example of this would be Ian Cheney, co-creator of the documentary King Corn, who has co-opted a truck for the basis of an all new urban food movement. After moving to Brooklyn and finding little space to grow fresh produce, Ian refurbished his truck into a 21st century urban farm that doubles as an educational tool for both kids and adults. Truck Farm spawned a movie and a movement, with a nationwide fleet of 25 trucks and counting.

Fri
Feb24

“Living” Spaces

Written by Stephen Aguayo • 2 Comments • February 24, 2012

Syracuse is brimming with possibilities, especially if you consider the many abandoned and neglected spaces in our city as sites of great potential. Hard work and creativity, applied throughout the city, have already transformed some vacant spaces into art galleries, creative work-spaces, and new businesses.

In Milwaukee, Sweet Water Organic has infused an abandoned warehouse space with new life. The founders of Sweet Water Organic utilized a “three-tiered, bio-intensive, simulated wetland” environment to grow various vegetables and raise fish. A vestige of a once thriving industry has become a bountiful testament to the untapped potential of human ingenuity by building a socially and environmentally conscious future. This project re-imagines vacant space, creates fresh economic opportunity and supports the local food system… who else is thinking we need hydroponics on the Northside?