by Sylvester Brown, Jr.
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| Administrators and Youth with the Sweet Potato Project (left to right /front to back rows) Damonte Williams, Marquita Williams, Charles Hill, Charnell Hurn, Elesha Harris, Dashia Martin, Ella Stewart, Derron Neal, Keon Williams, Barbara Cole, Darryeon Bishop, Michael Watson, Barry Goins, Sylvester Brown, Jr., Mycheal King, Keith Young and Brittney Taylor / Photo by: Benjamin Gandhi-Shepard |
It
was an idea that people could wrap their heads around. In early 2012, a local nonprofit
announced it was going to start an 8-week summer program that would teach
inner-city youth do-for-self entrepreneurial skills. Because of generational
poverty, lack of options, poor role models and what seems like a viable means
of generating income, too many urban youth are lured into the deadly drug
trade.
The
nonprofit would have youth plant sweet potatoes and show them how to turn that produce
into a marketable product or products. Administrators, with the help of the
Incarnate Word Foundation and a few other generous souls, raised enough money
to start the program. They reached out to educators, entrepreneurs, motivational
speakers, and small and large business owners, asking that they volunteer time to
teach classes on web design, recipe and product development, marketing and
sales and help the youth create at least one tangible product that they created
in their own neighborhood.
Then
a miracle happened. Fifteen hard-headed, undisciplined teens started to
dream. They were re-connected with their history and told of a time when black
people had no choice but to be self-dependent. In just six short weeks, disconnected
and disillusioned youth talked of “making a difference” in their communities.
They came up with sweet potato-based products -- a pancake mix, ice cream,
lotions and hair oils, jewelry, sauces and a sweet potato ka-bob are just a few
notions they’d like to pursue.
The
program’s objective is to spark economic engines in communities where hopelessness
is heavy and vibrant, successful black-owned businesses are rare commodities. It
has exceeded its goal. When the youth learned that the program was in dire need
of funds, their entrepreneurial genes took over. These future entrepreneurs
suggested a car wash, a sweet potato bake sale and a variety show to save their
program.
Inherent in their success is
the formula to save low-income, crime-ridden areas like so many in North St.
Louis.
It’s
time for all of us to dream. This program is not just salvation for 15 kids. It’s
a model for community renewal and economic revitalization.
Consider this a call-out for aggressive community engagement. This local effort requires the help and participation of local government, local philanthropists, and local, caring individuals.
Sweet
potatoes have been planted in the 21st Ward. It’s an area in transition
thanks to its maverick Alderman, Antonio French. But it’s also one impacted
with disproportionate rates of poverty, crime and unemployment.
Imagine
the boost residents will receive when they see a product created by their kids
in their communities on the shelves of a local grocer. Ordinary people in areas
where access to fresh fruit and vegetables are limited will recognize
extraordinary opportunities. If their
kids can produce a food-based product, why can’t adults and ex-offenders do the
same thing? Why can’t they grow the food that’s supplied to local schools,
businesses, restaurants and community agencies? Why can’t they create a self-sustaining
economy from food grown, packaged, canned and distributed in their own
community?
Ordinary people in areas where access to fresh fruit and vegetables are limited will recognize extraordinary opportunities.
With
these 15 young people, we’ve planted a seed of possibilities that can produce an
abundant, all-encompassing yield. It is a program that can…no, that must
succeed. It is a do-able vision in vision-less, painful economic times.
This
is much more than a quaint, feel-good program for a few inner city kids. The
Sweet Potato Project can be St. Louis’ version of New York’s Harlem Children’s Zone, Milwaukee’s Growing Power, Inc., or Pittsburgh’s Bidwell Training
Center. It can be our template for dramatic
change and job creation in disadvantaged neighborhoods all over the country.
Consider this a call-out for aggressive community
engagement. This local effort requires the help
and participation of local government, local philanthropists, and local, caring
individuals. The goals are ambitious and time is of the essence. Therefore,
what follows is a specific “wish list” of needs and services necessary to continue
and expand the Sweet Potato project:
****************************************
Bake Sale:
Take-charge
individuals, a business, group or church needed to organize and implement a
sweet-potato bake sale within the next week. We imagine individuals bringing
their best sweet potato dish to an early morning or afternoon event to raise
money for the project.
Car Wash:
The
Sweet Potato youth have their t-shirts, rags and the desire to spend a morning
washing cars. We need a car wash owner to donate the site and a few hours next Saturday
so youth, administrators and volunteers can wash cars to raise funds.
Product
Development:
We
must have a tangible product(s) in production by summer’s end. We’re looking
for an educational institution or a culinary school, food producers and
distributors, and marketing agencies to help develop the product(s).
Corporate,
Business, Philanthropic and Community Support:
SPP
youth are paid a stipend to participate in the program. It is in need of at
least $10,000 within the next two weeks. We need corporate, business and
philanthropic partners who will not only donate money but take ownership and
ensure that product(s) are developed, marketed, stored and available for
distribution before the holidays. Partners should invite youth to their
facilities and expose them to the manufacturing, distribution and marketing
aspects of their businesses. In addition, we are looking for sororities, fraternities,
church and secular groups to commit to purchase the product(s) the Sweet Potato
Youth have created.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ENGAGE?
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