Monthly Archives: June 2022

Quincy, MA- Rockland Trust announced that it provided $11.2 million in financing to Father Bills & MainSpring (FBMS) for the construction of a new state of the art facility in Quincy that will include a day center with wraparound supports, 75 emergency shelter beds, plus 30 units of 100% affordable housing.

Rockland Trust will also be purchasing the federal and state tax credits associated with the project through a Fund managed by Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation.

Rockland Trust is honored to work with FBMS and the City of Quincy on the Yawkey Housing Resource Center, said John Quintal, First Vice President, and Boston Lending Center Manager at Rockland Trust. We strongly believe in the innovative approach undertaken by FBMS to address the issue of homelessness.

Rockland Trust is a critical partner in our work to make the Yawkey Housing Resource Center a reality, said John Yazwinski, President & CEO at Father Bills & MainSpring. We are grateful for their multi-faceted commitment to our work through financing, purchasing of tax credits, and a significant charitable contribution from their Foundation which will better support individuals experiencing homelessness across the South Shore.

The City of Quincy acquired the land for the new project on FBMS behalf and furnished the 99-year land lease. The multi-use facility will be located at 39 Broad Street, directly across from the existing Father Bills Place in Quincy. Once the project is complete, the existing location will be demolished to make way for a new police station, administrative offices for the fire department, and headquarters for emergency operations.

We are grateful to business leaders like Rockland Trust, who are intentional about investing back into their communities through projects such as the Yawkey Housing Resource Center, said Nina Liang, Quincy City Councilor. When we are facing problems that affect all of us, it takes purposeful collaborations to address such serious needs. Their support of this project is critical in helping the most vulnerable individuals in our city find stability and work toward self-sufficiency.

Phase one of the FBMS project entails the construction of the two-story 16,000 SF Housing Resource Center (HRC) building which, in addition to 75 shelter beds, will provide healthcare, meal services, young adult services, education services, veteran services, and substance abuse treatment in collaboration with local community partners. Phase two of the project will be the construction of the apartment property featuring 30 affordable housing units for individuals transitioning out of HRC.

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Father Bills & MainSpring Receives $11.2 Million in Financing from Rockland Trust for the Construction of the Housing Resource Center in Quincy -...

A small Fruitvale contingent attended the Inclusion BC 2022 Conference in Surrey and returned home hoping to light a fire under local government.

Ben Postmus and his daughter Kayleigh Postmus attended the conference along with more than 600 people from May 26-28, with the central theme: Everybody Belongs.

Kayleigh, a 33-year-old woman living with disabilities, is incredibly resilient, unbelievably positive, and a staunch advocate for inclusion and acceptance.

It was a lot of fun, Kayleigh told the Trail Times. Dancing was fun and the dinner was amazing. The organizers put on a great conference, it was amazing and the beds were comfy.

Kayleigh Postmus

The three-day conference highlighted a number of keynote speakers and breakout sessions that included seminars on self-advocacy, housing, supportive employment, education, health, digital literacy, friendship and engaging people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, sexual health, and much more.

Kayleigh also led a seminar with her peers, where she shared one of her favourite moments about a special trip with her family.

It was called Speak, Share, Laugh about speaking and sharing moments about us, people with disabilities, and what we do for fun, said Kayleigh. So I talked about Alaska, my Alaskan cruise.

Kayleigh also sits on a community council in partnership with Community Living BC (CLBC), and family members and advocates from the East and West Kootenays. As the only attendees from Greater Trail, she says the conference provided invaluable information that she looks forward to sharing with the council and others.

I can bring back the housing that people want to live in houses, they want jobs, people want to have boyfriends and have relationships and friends and learn how to advocate for themselves too, said Kayleigh.

While many municipalities have actively engaged and implemented inclusion supports and services, some local governments have been slow to respond.

Comparing to what many communities are doing, we have a lot of work to do here with regards to supportive employment, with regards to inclusive housing, intentional communities, and with regards to how folks with disabilities are perceived in the community, said Ben.

He points to communities like Nelson and Port Alberni that have raised the bar on inclusive housing, and taken the initiative on providing property, funds, supports and guidance on inclusive community housing.

They are doing as much as they can for free to get the fire going on inclusive housing and intentional communities, Ben said. It is an amazing model, and there are so many other amazing models in other communities as well just not Trail.

They have had many opportunities to look at them and they are not.

Video: Laurens Story

As a coordinator for Family Supports Institute of BC, Postmus is a persistent advocate seeking supports from municipal governments and community groups, yet, realizes the will and resources are not always equal.

The scale is not balanced, there are so many service-rich communities, and so many communities that are not, and ultimately it is on the families to have to go to bat consistently to get the services they need for their family members, said Ben.

He says the Village of Fruitvale is making progress on Phase 1 of the affordable and inclusive housing project on Columbia Gardens Avenue, which will provide housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

More good news came on Monday, May 30, when the province announced that there will be new funding of nearly $5.3M devoted to community inclusion.

The funding will support Reimagining Community Inclusion projects in the priority areas of inclusive housing, employment, health and wellness, inclusive Indigenous services and a community-inclusion innovation fund, which focuses on inclusion projects.

This funding will kick start many good projects that will improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, said Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Our partners at the table are fully committed to advancing this complex work, which will ensure our province is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone.

The Postmus family has been advocating for inclusive supports for decades. If you live in Fruitvale you probably know Kayleigh, and cant help but stop and say Hi! whether its at a Nitehawks game, a local store, or a variety of Special Olympics BC -Trail events.

The conference proved an especially reinvigorating experience that offered some hope and guidance for the family.

For Kayleigh it was tremendous exposure on what she needs to do to advocate for herself for the rest of her life, said Ben.

Along with many others in Greater Trail, Kayleigh is not asking for much, only a chance to live and grow independently.

I do want my own place, she said. Learn how to make my own bed, do my own laundry, and make my own food to live a normal life.

Vancouver will host the World Inclusion Conference in 2023 and expects upwards of 1,000 delegates from across the globe, including Ben and Kayleigh.

Read: Province to fund Fruitvale affordable housing project

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To live a normal life: Fruitvale woman returns from Inclusion conference Rossland News - Rossland News

SILVER SPRING, MD -- Northwood Technical College is joining the 2022 cohort of Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network to holistically advance equity, access, and student success. By joining the ATD Network, Northwood Tech is committing to a tailored engagement in whole-college transformation and gaining access to a nationwide network of peer support and expertise.

Northwood Tech is part of a cohort of seven colleges joining the ATD Network during a time of continued enrollment challenges for two-year institutions across the country, when equitable access and community engagement are more important than ever for the students that colleges serve.

In response to the cohort announcement, John Will, President of Northwood Tech acknowledged, Northwood Technical College is pleased to be a part of the ATD network. There has never been a more important time to ensure were doing everything we can to ensure we are removing barriers to postsecondary success, and Achieving the Dream will help us ensure were prioritizing the right initiatives to support our efforts.

Community colleges, and particularly colleges in the ATD Network, recognize that they serve as engines of opportunity not just for their students, but for the entire communities that they serve, said Dr. Karen A. Stout, President and CEO of Achieving the Dream. ATDs work is centered on equity, and I am excited to see how the new Network colleges in the 2022 cohort start generating transformational change that lifts up their communities and advances the field.

Teams from each of the seven colleges will convene in Charlotte, NC, from June 14 to 16 for a Kickoff Institute that will set the stage for their partnership with ATD. Representatives from Northwood Tech will meet virtually with ATD coaches and begin to develop customized action plans based on Northwood Techs strategic goals.

Northwood Tech, alongside the 2022 cohort of new ATD Network colleges, is committed to tackling equity challenges, building a culture of data-informed decision-making, and maximizing the student experience through high-quality teaching and learning.

Northwood Tech is joining the ATD Network alongside six other institutions:

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country. Drawing on our expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, we provide institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K-12 partnerships, and more. We call this Whole College Transformation. Our vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable, antiracist, and economically vibrant communities. We know that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access, completion rates, and employment outcomes so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers.

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Northwood Technical College Joins Achieving The Dream Network - DrydenWire

Starting local, thinking global

Throughout the full week of Empower, ASU IT community members volunteered with organizations that have missions to better the lives of Arizonans. Areas of support were food donations, technology access for seniors and more.

One such project included hosting workshops with senior residents. There, ASU IT professionals partnered with local seniors to create online grocery shopping accounts. Together, they set up an account and got to shopping using the $10 gift certificate provided to each resident. Seniors also got to ask tech questions about their devices.

It was powerful to see our teams use their skills in the local community, like working with senior residents to better navigate their devices for real-world tasks," said Breanna Smith, event coordinator for Empower. "In doing so, our impact reaches beyond UTO, beyond ASU and into the communities we live and serve."

In addition to local volunteer opportunities, ASUs IT community is advancing a series of initiatives that serve the broader Arizona community.

During Empower, ASU Chief Information Officer Lev Gonick took the stage to share examples of this work in action, starting with the Digital Equity Initiative. In partnership with Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions'Maryvale One Square Mile Initiative, ASUs IT community is helping to bring high-speed, reliable internet access to local families in Phoenix through the use of millimeter wave technology.

Gonick also shared projects like the universitysuse of chatbotsto enhance students interactions when, for instance, seeking financial aid information. He announced theT4 Leadership Academy, which cultivates IT leaders who are globally engaged and locally attuned to the role of technology for social benefit and invested in designing the intergenerational workforce of the future.

Then a panel of six ASU, industry and local leaders took the stage to expand upon the theme of community, diving into their shared and unique experiences across the workforce.

Neal Lester, founding director of Project Humanities at ASU, challenged participants to disrupt the notion of the community and realize that there are many communities around the world in which we can feel included and part of. He explained that he came to that realization when he saw places where he was included, but felt excluded or invisible.

So, community is when I felt and knew that I was connected and being heard and being seen, said Lester.

With a greater and more diverse definition of community shared by the panelists, teams were primed to tackle eight IT areas to transform society. Spanning digital trust, communications, data architecture and learning technologies, the topics focused on:

Panelist and ASU Chief Research Information Officer Sean Dudley contextualized the development of helpful technology within these spheres at the university.

For those of us who are proficient in technology, we can lose sight of some of the basics, which can truly be transformative for people, Dudley said, adding that innovation must be human-centered and not just for the sake of technical improvements.

For example, as Debbie Esparza, chief executive officer of YMCA Metropolitan Phoenix, put it in regards to YWCAs Meals on Wheels program, there was an assumption seniors couldnt access technology. But that assumption was wrong, and new technology interfaces have been implemented as a result.

When it comes to creating a sense of community for ASUs IT professionals, its about creating an environment where all feel empowered.

We are intentional about the way that we designed the (ASU IT) community, the way we actionalize and operationalize the community, and find ways to sustain the community, Gonick said.

The Empower event turns this notion into action for the ASU IT community.

Teams spent the second half of the day connecting with colleagues and developing new ideas around the eight focus areas duringWorld Cafe-style discussions. The World Cafe Method pulls from integrated design principles that make discussion simple and effective for large group conversations.

It was an excellent opportunity to engage with so many amazing colleagues across our community, said Eddie Garcia, director of law information technology for the Sandra Day OConnor College of Law at ASU. I truly enjoyed this humanizing and thought-provoking event.

For the past five years, the University Technology Office has hosted the annual event to give Sun Devils time to foster a stronger sense of community amongst the universitys IT network. This fifth Empower emphasized that connection, as more than 500 Sun Devils joined together last week at the Student Pavilion on Tempe campus.

When asked what community means to them, ASUs IT professionals used words like belonging, equality, respect, happiness, connection and kindness. By exploring IT themes through the lens of human impact, teams were able to build connections and more closely collaborate to better serve the ASU community and beyond.

Special thanks to the leadership panels:

And to community partners:

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ASU IT event aims to empower communities: Those we serve and those we belong to - ASU News Now

For heartland communities hoping to thrive, encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs can energize the local economy. Places such as Ord, Nebraska, have emerged as regional poster children for economic development. Peers such as Council Grove in Kansas are seeing green shoots of their own. But such shifts can be difficult to make, and there isnt a tried and true formula that works everywhere. To figure out what works, communities have to develop their own combination of tactics and be willing to push until they find their version of success.

With 15 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visitors to Council Grove, such as Barbara Worley of Olathe and daughters Mila and Eloisa, might be forgiven if they expect to see a town tightly tethered to its past. In fact, entrepreneurship isnt just encouraged in the Morris County seat, its being cultivated. (Photo by Jeff Tuttle)

All Bob and Christy Alexander had in mind was renting studio spacein downtown Council Grove to expand a side hustle that was burgeoning into a small art business.

Then, with Bob branching out from stained glass into metalworks, the couple started to think about buying one of the many vacant, dilapidated buildings along Main Street. So they borrowed some money and set sail with no business plan and absolutely no idea about how to run a business.

Fourteen years later, Alexander ArtWorks is still going strong. Some townspeople hail the Alexanders as pioneers who paved the way for a Main Street rebound, but Christy rejects the label.

Pioneer indicates something that is intentional, she says. We were never trying to start a renaissance or anything like that.

Whatever the origins, the Alexanders sparked a momentum that helped this Flint Hills community of approximately 2,100 residents write its own playbook for rural revitalization. At a time when the story being told about our nations smaller communities is typically one of decline, disinvestment and a lack of innovation, Council Grove shows how entrepreneurs can energize an economy for the better by making it easier for residents, particularly younger generations, to start up their own business, and supporting them once they do.

But if you want more entrepreneurs in your community, how exactly do you get them? Because there doesnt seem to be an exact formula that works for every community, and the answer can seem a bit mysterious at first.

Barriers vary widely from community to community, as the Kansas Leadership Center, publisher of The Journal, learned during a recent Heartland Together listening tour about rural entrepreneurship through Kansas, Missouri Nebraska and Iowa. (The tour was part of a $150,000 grant to KLC from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. This story was produced independently of the tour.)

In some places, tour facilitators learned, it can be hard for business owners to secure a downtown storefront because of decaying buildings and absentee landlords. In others, the challenge is getting workers who can secure a job with salary and benefits at the local manufacturing plant to see starting their own business as an attractive alternative. Natural disasters, changing demographics, conflict between established residents and community disruptors, and wariness about communities aiming too high can all complicate the equation.

However, by looking at communities such as Council Grove, and Ord, Nebraska a similarly sized community that is being touted by its advocates as a regional example of rural resurgence patterns emerge that show a communitys path to forging a more shared mindset about growth and entrepreneurship.

One is the importance of building upon a foundation of young talent and finding ways to support their ventures, through both financial programs and community loyalty. Caleb Pollard and his partners in Ords Scratchtown Brewing Co., one of a number of entrepreneurial ventures that have been popping up in the central Nebraska community of about 2,000 people, like to call it positive transformation through fermentation.

Other trends include a willingness to preserve whats most essential about a communitys past by trying new things to help secure its future, whether that be by embracing immigrants or by nurturing entrepreneurism in schools.

But such shifts arent necessarily easy to make quickly. Downtown Alma, which is about 40 miles northeast of Council Grove in neighboring Wabaunsee County, is also showing signs of life. But community attitudes have tended to be more cautious about change than in Morris County.

Part of the reason is that Wabaunsee County is a county of small towns with strong individual identities and different regional loyalties scattered across multiple political jurisdictions. Collaboration on economic development there requires working across different perspectives in a way it doesnt in a community where 40% of the countys population is anchored in one place.

Because each town and region is distinctive, its important to be cautious about drawing overarching lessons, economic development experts say. One that rings clear, from Ord in particular, is that it takes a combination of tactics to achieve success. A focus on small businesses, for instance, doesnt need to preclude targeted recruitment of large employers, and financing assistance for startups can be incredibly helpful.

Another takeaway is that the revitalization of a community feeds upon itself: A rebounding community is attractive to younger generations, who then become the risk-takers that fuel continued growth. Instilling school-age kids with entrepreneurial spirit is an important part of recruiting and retaining young leaders.

In the end, success breeds success. Nothing shuts up naysayers better than proving them wrong, entrepreneurs told The Journal. Which means that entrepreneurs and the communities theyre working in need to be able to hold steady through failures and learn from setbacks to ultimately secure wins and develop a winning formula that works for them.

No town is too small to make a comeback, says Christy Preston. She covers the western part of the state for NetWork Kansas, a nonprofit established by the state to provide fiscal and technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

When we work at it together, then everything is unstoppable, Preston says. You can do a lot of great things.

Rural decline is far from universal, with some researchers noting many thriving rural counties benefit from proximity to population centers, an influx of immigrants and popularity with retirees. But the overall trend favors cities and suburbs.

The latest census figures show that 86% of the U.S. population lives in a metro area. In examining 2020 census data, the Kansas Health Institute determined that approximately 60% of Kansans live in urban counties. Similar dynamics are at play in Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.

The hollowing out of some rural towns means more than just the loss of a Rockwellian way of life, says Don Macke, a Nebraska-based community economic development expert. Downtrodden communities filled with poor and unhealthy people rely heavily on government assistance financed by all taxpayers, he notes.

Its not like they go away and die, Macke says. They just become really expensive.

Macke leads e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, which is part of NetWork Kansas.

It is his organization that identified Ord as a model for a rural rebound by nurturing entrepreneurism. It has a web page devoted to its extensive studies of Ord. But the communitys success is as rooted in theexercise of community leadership as it is in technical solutions that encourage entrepreneurs.

Over the past two-plus decades, leaders in Ord have persuaded voters to invest in themselves through a 1% sales tax for economic development, money that can provide gap financing for local small businesses in need of additional capital to get started. The first loan went to Valley Thunder Rods and Restoration, an auto body shop that specializes in antiques and classics, which remains in business under the ownership of Trent Proskocil and his brother. (NetWork Kansas provides similar financing through its E-Community program, which includes more than 60 communities around the state.)

To date, more than $6.2 million has been loaned to 68 local businesses throughout Valley County, leveraging over $19 million in development.

Community officials attracted some businesses, such as an ethanol plant that spawned a cluster of related industries, including Valley Transportation, a trucking company established to haul grain and byproducts. They also fought to keep important economic linchpins Ord already had. A successful push in the mid-1990s to save the community hospital, which operates now as the Valley County Health System, created an anchor for a health care cluster that is a leading creator of jobs in Ords region.

At the same time, there have also been investments in quality of life amenities. A nonprofit, the Valley Performing Arts Theater, was established and acquired the communitys iconic theater on the square to put on performing arts events. Such offerings, e2 indicates, are essential to the core formula for rural community development success in todays competitive location environment.

Whatever the formula, the community is producing results that could be hard to refute.

Although Valley County experienced a 4.7% drop in population from the 2010 to 2020 census, it saw a small uptick in population during the pandemic-era population shifts of 2021. Several other indicators are pointing in the right direction. They include personal income, job growth and retail sales.

Between 1970 and 2016, personal income in Valley County grew from $120.9 million to $183.8 million in real dollars, a 52% increase, according to e2 research. That outpaces the 40% rate of growth Americans as a whole gained in median personal income according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve over roughly the same period.

The county also saw a slight gain in employment between 2000 and 2018, outstripping peer counties in Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota.

But the No. 1 metric, in Mackes view, is population growth among people in their 30s and 40s young families and the next generation of leaders. Between 2000 and 2010, according to e2, Valley County experienced a nearly 54% increase in residents between the ages of 30 to 34. The increase was nearly 10% in the 40-44 age bracket.

In the 2020 Census, the countys working age populations percentage dropped slightly, from 54.2% to 51.3% of the total population, although detailed figures on the exact demographic breakdown were not yet available.

Mackes point speaks to another argument Mackes point speaks to another argumentfor rebuilding small towns.

It preserves a way of life that many Americans enjoy, offering a slower pace, less stress and closer community relationships than in a city.

That desire to live in such an environment was often cited by the dozen small-business owners The Journal spoke to for this story, including group conversations with entrepreneurs in Council Grove and Alma.

The businesspeople in the two Kansas communities do everything from running craft breweries and coffee shops, to restoring old buildings for event spaces and stores, to doing custom screen printing and embroidery, and operating a specialty beef company.

Economic development officials supporting these business owners include Tracy Henry, executive director of the Greater Morris County Development Corp., and Jim MacGregor, director of economic development for Wabaunsee County. MacGregor succeeded Henry after she left Wabaunsee County for the Morris County position in late 2019.

In Council Grove, Jesse and Deidre Knight are among the owners of Riverbank Brewing, along with Lindsay Gant and others. Beth Watts owns Watts Coffee Co., which she operates out of space she rents in the Alexander ArtWorks building.

Riverbank Brewing opened in November 2021, and Watts opened her coffee shop in January 2019.

Jesse grew up in the nearby town of Alta Vista, and Deidre grew up in Salina. They both have farming backgrounds.

They lived in Kansas City for a while after graduating from Kansas State University, but they found themselves in Council Grove often. The thought of moving to Council Grove had an irresistible appeal.

It was a way of life that we appreciate, Jesse Knight says. Its not that Kansas City wasnt fun. I think we knew that wasnt where we wanted to be long term.

Gant is originally from Dodge City and moved to Council Grove when she and her husband got married. Watts moved to the area in 2004 when her husbands job brought them there.

We are really creating a life we all want to have here. We want cool stores, cool coffee shops, (a) cool brewery, cool buildings, cool event spaces, Gant says. We are all choosing to be here, so we are creating a life

To be proud of, Deidre Knight interjected.

Yeah, Gant agreed.

Almas downtown entrepreneurs include 32-year-old Morgan Holloman, who owns the Antique Emporium of Alma and Mill Creek Mercantile, and Wrenn Pacheco, 40, who runs Pacheco Beef, which sells high-quality beef from the cattle she and her husband raise on their ranch. Dylan Barber, 51, is the owner of the Pep Club Locker, which provides school spirit wear and other products.

For Pacheco, the quality of Flint Hills grass is a key reason she and her husband are in Wabaunsee County. But there is more to it than that.

I believe in what this community has, she says. I believe that there is stuff and things for people to come and see and get to experience what we have here, and what we get to experience every day.

But even in places where entrepreneurs appear to be flourishing, its not always clear how much the path is being cleared for people of different backgrounds to pursue their dreams. Most of the business owners interviewed by The Journal reflect the demographic makeup of their communities, which are overwhelmingly white. And while its perhaps unwise to underestimate the risk of starting a business just about anywhere, its not uncommon for business owners in these communities to have a clearer path to accessing resources or other income streams to help them out.

Could that change over time?

When Henry talks to high school freshmen about BYOB, she is not encouraging underage drinking. Instead, she tells them that the acronym means be your own boss.

She delights in planting these seeds of entrepreneurism. To her, that is the ultimate form of economic development.

Henry grew up in Cambridge, Kansas, a town of fewer than 100 people about 60 miles southeast of Wichita. When she finished high school, her parents got her some luggage and sent her on her way. Dont live the rest of your life in Cambridge, they told her. Go out and find something better.

Thats the mindset Henry is trying to change when working with students in Morris County. The message is: A four-year college degree and relocation to a city is not the only road to success.

Perhaps, she says, that message will resonate with the student who spends evenings tinkering with a motorcycle, dirt bike or mower. Maybe that student opens a small-engine repair shop.

They are not going to employ 30 people, Henry says. Thats OK. They are providing a good job and a decent living for their family. They are going to stay there. They are going to raise their kids; they are going to go through the school system.

And who knows? Henry says, they may need to bring on a second person, and maybe a third.

Its not an overnight success, she says. To me, that is economic development. To me, economic development is growing your own.

Beth Watts opened Watts Coffee Co. in Council Grove in 2019 in space she rents in the Alexander ArtWorks building. And if online reviews are an accurate indicator, her shop is one of the perks of local living. (Photo by Jeff Tuttle)

Yet change doesnt always come easily, even in communities that appear to be headed in the right direction. In choosing whether to embrace entrepreneurship, communities have to wrestle with competing values, squaring a desire for growth and progress with a willingness to deal with conflict and loyalty to friends and family, history and past successes.

Silver Tongued Devil is a Belgian tripel, and its a big seller for Scratchtown Brewing when it comes out each fall. The success of the beer is one way Pollard and his partners get the last laugh on opponents who made life difficult as the business moved toward its opening in 2013.

The name of the beer comes from the nickname brewery opponents gave Pollard when they complained in an online forum.

Pollard, 42, is still unsure what generated the vitriol and false accusations including that his wife was running a brothel at the brewery. Crazy as it might sound, he thinks some of it came from cat lovers who were outraged by a feral cat ordinance under consideration when one of the Scratchtown Brewing partners was on the city council.

Some people thought it was funny in town. Some people thought it was horrific. Some people didnt care, Pollard says of the backlash. But for us it was a nightmare. It was a three- year nightmare.

Pollards experience is an extreme case, but it illustrates that naysayers and skeptics can be a huge hurdle in rebuilding a community through entrepreneurism, especially in a tight-knit small town where conflict can feel up close and personal.

In Council Grove, entrepreneurs have crossed swords with residents who prefer selling the towns history.

I think there is a kind of a group of people here who want us to walk around in period costumes from the 1800s and be gunslingers, because that is what they think draws people to town, Watts says.

MacGregor has encountered similar resistance in Wabaunsee County.

The geography and history of Wabaunsee County might explain the lack of vision, says MacGregor, a Virginia native who fell in love with the Flint Hills when he did tours at Forts Leavenworth and Riley during his career as an Army officer. He and his family settled outside Alma a few years ago after MacGregor retired from the service.

The majority of the countys population is rural, MacGregor notes, and the remaining 40% live in seven very small towns. Alma is the biggest with about 800 residents.

The county, MacGregor notes, is part of three state Senate districts and is split among seven school districts.

Alta Vista on the west identifies heavily with Morris County because its kids are part of the Council Grove school district, and MacGregor says Harveyville to the east sometimes feels more like it is part of Shawnee or Osage counties than part of Wabaunsee County.

And then, he says, there is a historical religious divide between the northern half of the county, settled by German Catholics, and the southern half, settled by German Lutherans.

Listening to MacGregors descriptions of Wabaunsee County, its easy to see how they could apply in other parts of the state.

Wabaunsee County, he says, has never been a county that has spent a lot of energy or money investing in the future potential of growth. There is very much a sense in some places that what we have works, that this is a great place and we dont want it to change.

Evidence of that attitude, MacGregor says, was apparent three decades ago when the county rejected a power plant that ultimately located in Pottawatomie County.

You can also see it today, he says, in some natives who have never traveled outside the county and in the Alma residents who disagreed with incentivizing the development of 16 residential lots in town. The incentives were ultimately approved by the city council with support from the local school board and the county commissioners.

The population trends in Wabaunsee County are actually more positive in recent years than the ones in Morris County. Almas home county lost fewer people than Council Groves home county from 2010 to 2020, and recent estimates suggest that Wabaunsee County climbed up toward its 2010 population mark in 2021 while Morris County saw a slight dip.

These are good people, MacGregor says, they just come at these issues from a different perspective on what works and what the future might look like based upon their past experiences.

Pacheco and other business owners in downtown Alma have more prosaic concerns, such as how to draw more foot traffic into their stores. Theyd also like to see owners of the empty downtown buildings take responsibility for making them look presentable.

If there are whispers in town that they are crazy to make a go of it in Alma, they pay them no mind.

We are grinding, Holloman says. We are making it work.

Morgan Holloman, owner of the Antique Emporium of Alma and Mill Creek Mercantile, knows that rural locales are often seen as too rocky for entrepreneurial endeavors to put down roots. But she finds motivation in negativity. We are grinding, she says. We are making it work. (Photo by Jeff Tuttle)

Even when progress is achieved, its not without challenges. Sustaining success is a problem that can creep up, especially if communities arent prepared for it.

Pollards experience in Ord tells him that community leaders in Council Grove, Alma and elsewhere need to be aware of burnout. Pollard moved to Ord with his wife and children 14 years ago to become head of the Valley County Economic Development Board. Eventually he tired of public service. But after a little time away, he is re-energized about becoming more civically involved.

Such ebbs and flows are natural, Pollard says, and need to be managed rather than avoided.

Waxing and waning is really natural, he says. Volunteers will come and go, leaders will come and go, and thats OK. Re-engaging is OK. That is the one thing. It is a lifelong commitment, and your role can evolve in the community over time.

Proskocil, the co-owner of the body shop in Ord, is a native. It was a nice place to grow up, he says, with enough stuff for kids to do.

Continued here:

Could more entrepreneurs help revive the heartland? - The Journal at the Kansas Leadership Center

When Ugg was planning its Pride Month initiative this year, the brand knew now was the time to tackle a critical issue mental health.

According to a 2021 CDC survey, over 37% of high school students reported struggles with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the issue wasmore common among individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+.

Ugg and other brands took notice, and they arenow raising awareness and devoting financial resources to the cause.

In addition to rolling out a new campaign called Feel Heard, the Deckers Brands-owned label is partnering with The Trevor Project for the first time and donating $125,000 to the organization after previously working in 2020 and 2021 with GLAAD, a leading media advocacy organization accelerating LGBTQ acceptance and equality.

At Ugg, we strive to contribute to a world where everyone feels safe to openly discuss the importance of mental health, said Nicks Ericsson, Uggs senior director of brand purpose. We wanted [the Feel Heard] campaign] to bridge May being Mental Health Awareness Month and June being Pride Month as they were two crucial moments for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ugg Pride Fluff Yeah slides.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Ugg

A recent Trevor Project survey found that 45% of LGBTQIA+-identifying youth seriously considered suicide within the past year. Additionally, nearly one in five identifying as transgender or nonbinary attempted suicide and all surveyed youths of color had a higher suicide rate than their white peers.

Ericsson noted that diversity and inclusion were essential elements in its Pride outreach. Every one of every race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation and age should feel heard, he said. Having a diverse campaign ensures that we are amplifying The Trevor Projects mission to a broad consumer group, specifically those who need it the most.

The Trevor Project agreed: This Pride, were doing all we can to support young people who do not have access to accepting communities, a spokesperson told FN. Part of that is engaging in intentional collaborations with major companies to get our message out to parents, families and young people across the country to make sure that LGBTQ young people everywhere know that we are always here for them.

In all, the Ugg campaign features six diverse influencers and advocates, including performer/activist ALOK, models Chlo Vro and Sarina Moralez, artist Isaah and collectors Robert and Orren, who all wear Uggs colorful collection.

This year, several other brands are also partnering with nonprofits focusing on emotional wellbeing and also displaying greater diversity in their campaigns.

Toms is donating a third of its annual profits to several organizations, including Colors,which focuses on expanding communities and mental health counseling for LGBTQIA+ people under 25 years old. Its unisex Unity collection will also beavailable year-round.

The collections goal is to ultimately support nonprofits at the grassrootslevel. Mental health intersects with access to opportunity, and that impacts marginalized communities, including LGBTQ youth and young adults, said Ian Stewart, Toms chief marketing officer.

Toms Fenix Unity slip-on for Pride.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Toms

Authenticity is critical when creating Pride collections to avoid LGBTQIA+ community appropriation, according to Stewart. Its important with any of these cultural moments that brands are supporting those communities all year and not just for a day, a week or a month. Thats where things arent as authentic as they need to be, he said.

Converse also is highlighting mental health in its eighth annual Pride collection, conceived by its LGBTQIA+ employee resource groups own discussions on the importance of community and family. The 2022 initiative focuses on Found Family those who create safe, unified spaces for other LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Coming out of the pandemic, when mental health issues have been reported to disproportionately impact LGBTQIA+ youth, our teams had been discussing the importance of family and community in helping to lift each other up, saidIlana Finley, the brands VP of global communications and social and community impact. The idea of chosen family has been around for quite some time, but its meaning and significance to the LGBTQIA+ community is critical both in the journey to finding Pride, but also as a result of the struggles and isolation during the last couple of years.

LGBTQIA+ youth star in Converses Found Family campaign for Pride 2022.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Converse

The theme of community also permeates Dr. Martens 2022 Generations of Pride film series, in which director Jess Kohlshows how different groups can educate each other in and outside of LGBTQIA+ circles.

For the occasion, the brand has launched the For Pride 1461 oxford, accented with 11 stripes symbolizing the Progress Pride flag (representing the standard rainbow flags six aspects of life and those who are transgender, Black and indigenous). Dr. Martens is also donating $200,000 to The Trevor Project, continuing its partnership for the sixth year in a row.

The incredible crisis support, education and resources The Trevor Project provides LGBTQ youth is more important than ever, said Julia Seltzer, Dr. Martens VP of marketing for the Americas. In addition, we will launch a matching donation promotion during the holidays to raise awareness at a time when LGBTQIA+ youth is especially struggling with depression.

Dr. Martens 1461 for Pride oxford shoe.

CREDIT: Courtesy of Dr. Martens

Indeed, partnering with nonprofits and charities is vital for brands to create authentic collections that prioritize storytelling over sales.

One such organization is GLAAD, which is working with Puma, Crocs, Savage x Fenty and other brands this year. John McCourt, GLAADs deputy VP of strategic partnerships said that forging genuine relationships with the LGBTQIA+ community extends beyond just whos in Pride-focused campaigns it also must encompass the community behind the scenes, from designers to staff.

For instance, Pumas 2022 Pride collection, Together Forever celebrates love, friendship and community through a collection designed by queer artist Carra Sykes. Additionally, the campaign features LGBTQIA+ individuals behind and in front of the camera, including Cara Delevingne, Brinda Iyer, Jalen Dominique, Matt Bernstein, Torraine Futurum and Yassa Almokhamad.

Pride is not as simple as just being proud, its a step you take every day to love yourself, to love your community, to accept others, to lead with love, Delevingne said in a statement. Puma will donate 20% of the collections profits with a $250,000 minimum to GLAAD.

Cara Delevingne stars in Pumas Pride 2022 campaign.

CREDIT: Courtesy of PUMA/MEGA

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Why Mental Health Is at the Center of Pride Month Initiatives by Ugg, Converse and Other Brands - Footwear News

Build back better and build back equal have become familiar slogans used to capture a global commitment to redressing educational inequities and system failures brought to center stage during the COVID-19 pandemic. These slogans are also a way for decisionmakers, educators, and communities to verbalize how and why our education systems are not adequately and inclusively serving all students and families. The Akanksha Foundation, a civil society organization based in Mumbai that works with government schools, is using build back better to create momentum for promoting the social and emotional learning (SEL) and well-being of students.

Akanksha is building this momentum through fostering intentional conversations between families and teachers on how to ensure that schools are not just preparing children academically, but also promoting SEL alongside civics education and work readiness skills development. In research conducted in collaboration with the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings, Akanksha discovered that parents and teachers have different beliefs and perceptions about the purpose of school. Rather than viewing these differences as a hurdle to building back better, Akanksha is using this as an opportunity to start critical dialogues on SEL and build synergy between schools and families.

According to a study on multidimensional povertywhich measures health, education, and standard of livingroughly a quarter of Indians are living in multidimensional poverty. As in other parts of the world, the pandemic has increased food insecurity, lack of sufficient medical services, poverty, unemployment, and interruptions in school in Indiaall of which negatively impact students well-being. Akanksha is using a building back better approach to acknowledge students experiences with multidimensional poverty, and to bring communities together to address learning gaps and the social and emotional needs of children and their families.

Established in 1991 as a group of student volunteers, Akanksha is now a professional institution and network of over 700 educators, staff, and volunteers. They are on a mission to provide equitable and quality educational opportunities to over 10,000 marginalized children in 27 government K-10 schools in the cities of Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. Akankshas teaching and learning approach focuses on the holistic physical and mental development of students and draws on Emory Universitys Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning curriculum. Akanksha is using this curriculum alongside teacher professional development activities, family engagement strategies, and systems change efforts to build a culture of well-being in schools.

Holding intentional conversations with parents and teachers is a step toward building greater alignment and collaboration between families and schools on the importance of SEL. According to one teacher leader from a Mumbai school, Children studying in our schools often come from households and communities where they experience trauma, be it physical or mental, regularly. SEL plays a key role here in giving them a platform to talk about and learn healthy mechanisms to cope with this trauma. Additionally, a healthy and balanced mind also strengthens their academic abilities. Integrating SEL with academic development is shown to foster educational success.

As a member of the Family Engagement in Education Network (FEEN), Akanksha knows that family engagement is critical to transforming education systems to better serve children, families, and educators. Started by CUE, the FEEN is a peer-learning network made up of over 50 member teams representing government jurisdictions, educator and parent associations, and civil society organizations from 12 countries around the world. In addition to being active in the FEEN, Akanksha has been using the Conversation Starter Tools to capture the perspectives of teachers, parents, and students on the purpose of education and their level of trust and alignment, along with other measures. They are using the findings to inform conversations between families and schools that lead to evidence-based strategies to increase family engagement. The tools include checklists for contextualizing the survey language and design, as well as guidance on how to analyze and use data to inform conversations. The tools are part of Collaborating to transform and improve education systems: A playbook for family-school engagement and are currently being revised and internationally validated in collaboration with the FEEN.

Between December 2021 and January 2022, Akanksha surveyed 323 parents and 109 educators (teachers, school leadership, counselors, and administrators) in government schools in Mumbai and Pune. The findings from these surveys showed that parents and teachers are on different pages when it comes to the purpose of school, and that greater trust and alignment are needed. Parents emphasized academic learning as the main purpose of school, whereas teachers prioritized SEL. Over half of teachers (54 percent) believed SEL was the main purpose of school compared to those who saw civics education (19 percent) and an economic purpose (20 percent)or gaining work readiness skillsas the priority. Only a small percentage of teachers (7 percent) saw academics as the main purpose of education.

On the other hand, most parents (42 percent) believed that academic preparation was the main purpose of school, followed by civics education (21 percent) and SEL (21 percent). Less than a quarter (16 percent) saw the main purpose of school as economic. This trend held true for parents across gender and age of their child (kindergarten through secondary school). However, parents with lower education levels prioritized academics to a greater extent than parents with higher education levels. This is likely because academic and work skills are seen as increasing social mobility, especially among groups who are historically marginalized by class, caste, or urban or rural residence.

Teachers rightly perceived that parents prioritized academic preparation as one of the main purposes of education. However, parents believed that teachers also prioritized academics over other purposes, which was not the case. As one school leader in Mumbai stated, Parents may not be aware of the schools role in childrens SEL development in the same way they see schools as leading students academic preparation. This perception gap is shown in Figure 1 below, where there is a notably larger difference in perceptions on academics and SEL as the main purpose of school.

Surveying parents and teachers is just the first step in understanding their values and beliefs on education and utilizing evidence to spark conversations. Akanksha will use their survey findings toward three key actions to increase family engagement and promote systems transformation in their partner schools.

In order to build back better, parents and families must have spaces where they can discuss their different perspectives on education with teachers and school leaders. Data is critical to informing these conversations. Intentional and data-informed discussions can lead to greater trust, as well as meaningful collaboration. Akanksha is still trying to develop its approach for increasing family engagement, but these conversations are an important step to working more inclusively and intentionally with parents.

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Starting conversations on social and emotional learning with parents and teachers is critical for building family engagement - Brookings Institution

As a huge infusion of government infrastructure dollars rolls out across the nation, philanthropy has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do things differently. Unlike in the past, grant makers can make sure those funds are shared equitably and create economic benefits for all Americans.

A chance like this hasnt presented itself in decades. The influx of funds includes $1.2 trillion from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $1.9 trillion in the American Rescue Plan to both aid pandemic recovery and help states rebuild outdated infrastructure.

Some states are adding their own investments to the mix. California has projected $45 billion for infrastructure investments in this fiscal years budget and just proposed tens of billions more for infrastructure and climate-resiliency programs in the next budget. New York has budgeted an unprecedented $32.8 billion to improve the states transportation infrastructure.

Repairing roads and bridges, upgrading water infrastructure, expanding broadband access, and building a national network of electric-vehicle charging stations are all important. But this opportunity is not just about what we build but also about who decides, who builds, and who benefits.

Rural areas and communities of color have historically had a harder time accessing funds for major federal and state projects or contributing to decisions about how the money is spent. If old patterns prevail, employment opportunities associated with these projects will go to asmall slice of workers at the typically large white-owned firms contracted to do the work.

In other words, millions of people will beleft behind again unless philanthropy works with government leaders to help ensure that all communities have a fair shot at benefitting from these massive investments.

Philanthropy can play a leading role in three critical areas. It can insist on bringing community perspectives to project planning and development. It can ensure dollars and jobs are distributed equitably. And it can coordinate all these efforts on a national scale.

Provide opportunities for community perspectives and decision-making. Economic development efforts are often top-down, excluding the diverse voices of those who live and work in the places affected. An inclusive approach to distributing federal and state infrastructure funds needs to take varying community interests, opportunities, demographics, and workforce realities into account.

Local advocates have already demonstrated the effectiveness of such an approach. In the rural California city of Calexico, the youth-led Imperial Valley Equity and Justice Coalition convinced local officials to use American Rescue Plan funding to invest in parks and resources for low-income workers hit hard by the pandemic, rather than spending the money on a local airport as was initially proposed. The groups organizing efforts, supported by the Latino Community Foundation, included representing worker views at city-council meetings and securing media coverage.

To support this type of community input, California launched a new $600 million Community Economic Resilience Fund that will enable all 13 regions of the state to create their own blueprint for using state pandemic-recovery funds in equitable and carbon-neutral ways. California grant makers, including the James Irvine Foundation, which I lead, are providing grants to community nonprofits to share knowledge and build their capacity to participate effectively in these regional collaboratives.

Grassroots organizations often lack the resources to influence government funding, especially at this scale. Several foundations have stepped up in response. The Center at Sierra Health Foundation recently started the Community Economic Mobilization Initiative to help local nonprofits, through grants and other assistance, improve their ability to attain and use federal funding. The project also includes the creation of a statewide advocacy network of grassroots organizations to ensure accountability for government investments.

Similarly, theMelville Charitable Trust, along with other philanthropic organizations, is launching a nationwidePartnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities, which aims to halt inequitable federal investment practices that hurt people of color. The effort will provide up to $5 million to nonprofits working with Black, Indigenous, and Latino people to help bring federal resources to their neighborhoods. The funds can be used in areas such as hiring more staff and creating small demonstration programs that promote equitable community and economic-development plans.

Ensure equitable employment opportunities. Even before the infusion of funds for new federal and state infrastructure projects, research showed that more than one in four infrastructure jobs would need to be refilled during the next decade because of retirements and other factors. Making sure those jobs create a path to the middle class for low-wage workers, especially workers of color, will require intentional planning and accountability.

Americas current infrastructure workforce is overwhelmingly white and male a reflection of inequities in current hiring, training, and job-retention practices. Philanthropy can shape local and regional efforts to make equity a priority in filling these jobs. The Kresge Foundations Detroit Program, for example, is working with the city to publicly track how infrastructure dollars are spent and is providing grant support to Detroits workforce-development agency, which aims to use American Rescue Plan resources to improve the economic mobility of low-income city residents.

Another philanthropic effort the Equity in Infrastructure Project, supported by my organization and spearheaded by Phillip Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, and John Porcari, former U.S. deputy secretary of transportation aims to increase the number, size, and proportion of government contracts going to historically underutilized businesses. The project will help these firms compete more effectively by working with government agencies to revamp the contracting process. That includes improving payment times, standardizing reporting requirements, and increasing the amount and type of nancing available.

Support national coordination. The enormous scale of the work ahead will require continuous coordination a role well suited to philanthropy.

Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Emerson Collective, the Ford Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation have partnered with nonprofits such as the National League of Cities to launch the Local Infrastructure Hub, which will help leaders in Americas small towns and cities get their fair share of infrastructure funding. The project will connect these local leaders with experts to guide them through the funding application process and will provide a centralized place for sharing innovation so that small towns can better compete with big cities.

Additionally, six foundations, including the Irvine Foundation, are supporting a national public-private partnership called What Works Plus, which will act as a central hub for grant makers to coordinate work on projects funded by the federal infrastructure bill. A core goal is to learn and share what works, and what doesnt, so that federal agencies and philanthropy can adapt in real time as these massive investments begin to flow into communities.

Foundations nationwide should replicate or join these and many other efforts underway. The stakes are high. Government infrastructure dollars provide an opportunity to change the trajectory for the nearly one-third of the workforce earning less than $15 an hour a disproportionate number of whom are workers of color.

Philanthropic leaders have rightfully spoken up about the need for racial equity. Heres our chance. Lets ensure the workers and communities most often ignored are the most prepared to speak up about where and how government funds are invested. The torrent of government dollars is coming, and philanthropy can either watch it flow by or use our resources, convening power, and knowledge of local nonprofit organizations to steer spending in a direction that allows all communities to thrive.

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Philanthropy Needs to Ensure That Massive Infrastructure Spending Goes to Communities That Too Often Miss Out - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

An initiative aimed at celebrating Pride Monthwith a series of events throughout Downtown Boston that are free and open to the public.

Mayor Michelle Wu, in partnership with the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Men of Melanin Magic, today announce A Very Proud City, an LGBTQ+ Pride series with events to take place throughout Downtown Boston.

Im so excited to be in community and celebrate Pride this month, said Mayor Michelle Wu. A Very Proud City series will center our LGBTQ+ residents, support local organizations and amplify events that highlight and serve our LGBTQ+ community. Im grateful to all of our partners for working to ensure that we are celebrating our queer communities and I encourage everyone to stop by these events.

We are excited to welcome everyone back to Downtown Boston to celebrate Pride with our LGBTQ+ communities, said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. As we emerge out of the pandemic, this is a tremendous opportunity to join our queer residents in spreading joy, love, and acceptance to all within our city.

I have attended a few of Men of Melanin Magic events in the past and I am incredibly excited to partner with them this PRIDE to amplify queer joy and resilience in Downtown, said Mariangely Solis Cervera, Chief of Equity & Inclusion. Just yesterday, we kicked off PRIDE at City Hall with spoken word and drag performances. I can't wait to celebrate A Very Proud City this summer with such a talented group.

Im excited to jumpstart this welcoming and inclusive initiative the day after we kicked off Pride Month at City Hall, said Quincey J. Roberts, Sr., Executive Director for the Mayors Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement. A Very Proud City will serve as a place for community connection and joy for our residents while also supporting local LGBTQ+ organizations.

A Very Proud City is a key part of the Citys effort to celebrate Pride with gatherings throughout the entire month of June, highlighting connection, resilience, art, and joy for all Bostonians. With events located in Downtown Boston, A Very Proud City is also part of a concerted and intentional effort to re-open the city as part of Mayor Wus Boston Blooms series, welcoming back LGBTQ+ communities to Downtown.

Beginning on June 8, A Very Proud City will take place every Wednesday in June. All of the events are open to the public and free of charge, with a wide range of activities for families and adults.

A Very Proud City Schedule:

BOP-ley Square Wednesday, June 8

Location: Copley Square Park @ In Front of the Trinity Church Boston

560 Boylston St Boston, MA 02116 United States

Description: The Ultimate Tea Dance Block Party

Time: 5pm-8pm

District Q Wednesday, June 15

Location: Sam Adams Park at Faneuil Hall @ North st and Congress st.

1 Faneuil Hall Sq Boston MA 02109

Description: An eclectic Queer Marketplace

Time: 4pm-7pm

NetWerq Wednesday, June 15

Location: Rooftop of Sam Adams Taproom

Description: A casual gathering for folks to meet and collaborate with other queer entrepreneurs, organizers, creators, and community members

Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm

DanceTown Crossing Wednesday, June 22

Location: Downtown Crossing @ Summer Street and Washington Street

8 Summer St Boston, MA 02110 United States

Description: Dance Variety Show featuring local queer dance groups and drag performers

Time: 5pm-8pm

Pride Calling Wednesday, June 29

Location: Boston Common @ the Parade Grounds

Description: Benefit Concert to establish a Mutual Aid Fund specific to helping queer people in need.

Time: 5pm-8pm

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Mayor Wu Announces A Very Proud City - Boston.gov

In the years right out of college, my friends and I spent nearly every Sunday in Manhattans Chinatown. Wed meet for dim sum, circulating between Pings and Golden Unicorn and Congee Village. Over food that reminded us of what we had grown up with, wed gripe about the work week and joke in the way longtime friends do. Bellies sated, wed spend the rest of our lazy afternoon sipping on taro boba and enjoying thick-cut toast slathered with condensed milk. Before heading home, we might hit up one of the groceries or sidewalk stands to buy Asian vegetables and fruits we couldnt find anywhere else, and, for good measure, swing by the bakery to load up on pineapple buns, egg tarts, and charsiu buns for the week.

Chinatown was my home away from home, Justin McKibben tells me. Hes the founder of Send Chinatown Love, an organization that provides support to small businesses in Manhattans Chinatown. It was the only place I could get a meal that felt like a home-cooked meal in a city that can be very isolating.

McKibben started Send Chinatown Love in February 2020, just before cities began shutting down. By then, Chinatowns across the nation were already feeling the effects of anti-Asian xenophobia. Mom-and-pop businesses in these immigrant communities, many of which already operate on slim margins, saw a downturn in patrons. McKibben, who lived in Chinatown at the time, noticed that some of his favorite restaurants had shuttered, unable to pay rent or worker wages.

We went in with an idea of how we would help, but we were very, very intentional to make sure that we werent prescribing help.

With his background in software engineering, McKibben says his first instinct was to help them by registering them for food delivery apps or building them websites and social media followings. But very quickly he realized that what the businesses needed was money, and fast. Unable to apply or ineligible for government relief due to their cash-only nature, many of them direly needed a way to pay their rent and workers. So McKibben and a small team of volunteers began to fundraise for businesses, directly cutting them checks.

We went in with an idea of how we would help, but we were very, very intentional to make sure that we werent prescribing help, McKibben says. While many business owners were initially wary of these young people who offered them no-strings-attached aid, McKibben says that taking the time to listen to their needs, as well as showing complete transparency in SCLs operations and fundraising, helped garner trust with an immigrant community that had felt taken advantage of in the past and learned to expect little from government programs and outsiders claiming to offer aid.

Since then, the organization has expanded its aid offerings. It hosts food crawls to encourage foot traffic back into Chinatown establishments. It organizes a gift-a-meal project in which community members fundraise for meals from restaurants (some with owners who might otherwise be reluctant to receive perceived handouts, as McKibben put it) to then serve to food shelters. And yes, it now offers business development services that include website creation, marketing strategies, and online delivery help.

When I ask Tsai what shes taken away from the experience of running Heart of Dinner, she echoes McKibben. Something Yin and I have both learned is to really listen, especially to our elders, Tsai says. An integral part of their work involves hearing the needs of the individuals they serve. Every week, volunteers call elders to remind them their care package will be delivered the next dayin case theyve forgotten or if they have another appointment they might need to reschedule. When these elders face crises, they similarly feel comfortable to make requests of the team. One man, recovering from a mugging, declined the teams offers to fundraise for his care, and asked only for an extra egg that week in his meal, Tsai says. While anyone might feel an urge to push for that fundraiser, Heart of Dinner's team wanted to dignify the mans wishes.

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The Rise and Future of Heart of Dinner and Mutual Aid in Chinatown - Bon Appetit