The Power of Purpose – Celena, Women’s Bean Project September 24, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin Before she turned 15, Celena had overdosed six times. By 18 Celena had been incarcerated due to drug issues. Experiencing homelessness, and convicted of creating, distributing, and consuming meth, the legal system “wanted to make an example of me,” she says. And not a good one. “I was young and had gotten into some big … Continue reading The Power of Purpose – Celena, Women’s Bean Project
The Ripple of Recovery – Jolena, Central City Concern September 10, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin “We do recover.” That’s the simple, profound message Jolena shares with the women she works with as Peer Support Specialist at the Bridges to Change – Grounded Transitions Program in Portland. As a peer support mentor, Jolena provides assistance to 10 women living drug-free while they get their lives back on track. From helping them … Continue reading The Ripple of Recovery – Jolena, Central City Concern
Responsibility, Leadership, and a Passion For Change September 4, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin At age 16 Yehiah, the youngest of five, was living in Waltham, Massachusetts. With all of his siblings in college that seemed like Yehiah’s path, too. Then the economy took a downturn, his family fell on hard times, and he says, “My grades dropped and I started hanging out with the wrong people.” It would … Continue reading Responsibility, Leadership, and a Passion For Change
The Ripple Effect of Social Enterprise – Pablo Gaxiola, Re-Entry Programs Manager, Goodwill Silicon Valley August 27, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin REDF is an investment that works. Yes, we could show you the charts, graphs, and spreadsheets that underscore the return on investment that social enterprises provide. But when it comes to making an impact on people, it’s the stories that show the power of social enterprise to change not just one life, but many. We … Continue reading The Ripple Effect of Social Enterprise – Pablo Gaxiola, Re-Entry Programs Manager, Goodwill Silicon Valley
Save the Environment, Transform a Life – Brandon Benton, Community Recycling Programs Coordinator August 20, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin If you drive through Marin and Sonoma Counties you’ve seen them along the side of the road, in their green hats, and blaze orange safety vests brandishing weed trimmers, shovels, and post hole diggers. They are the young adults of Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB). Their mission is to protect the environment and transform their … Continue reading Save the Environment, Transform a Life – Brandon Benton, Community Recycling Programs Coordinator
From Life on the Streets to a Job in City Hall August 10, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin Six years ago, Meghaan was a young woman sleeping on the streets of Portland. “I was 19 and thought I knew everything. I had the mentality that I could do whatever I wanted and no one could stop me. My drinking was at a heightened level, and I was downtown at 1 am just hanging … Continue reading From Life on the Streets to a Job in City Hall
Anthony Jackson: Continuing to do Bigger and Better Things July 20, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin In 2016, Anthony Jackson (AJ) received REDF’s Stuart G. Moldaw Award for his tenacity and courage in overcoming significant barriers to employment. Anthony grew up in one of LA’s toughest neighborhoods, in circumstances that typically don’t just derail a young life, but end it. With the support of the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD)—a … Continue reading Anthony Jackson: Continuing to do Bigger and Better Things
Woman on a Mission: Helping Others July 16, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin https://redf.org/latest/jashawns-story/ JaShawn Hill’s fall, from having fun at a Big 10 university to being homeless and cut off from her family, came fast. Her rung-by-rung recovery and revival took longer. But JaShawn’s determination has made her more than a simple story of redemption. She’s a sterling example of the ripple effect that emanates from social … Continue reading Woman on a Mission: Helping Others
Dan Tiffany’s Recipe for Life July 10, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin Dan Tiffany grew up in a supportive suburban family, graduated from college, and had a wife and beautiful daughter. In some respects, it seemed that he had it all. But as he says, “I let alcohol take priority. I reached the point where I could not get out of bed without a couple of drinks … Continue reading Dan Tiffany’s Recipe for Life
A Welcome Retreat – Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal, Director of Workforce Development, New Moms February 13, 2018 By Visceral_Dev_Admin Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal, Director of Workforce Development, spent eight years in traditional workforce development before joining New Moms, an organization that is changing the future for young moms experiencing poverty and homelessness in Chicago by offering housing, job training, and family support. Their social enterprise, Bright Endeavors, uses the craft of making premium soy candles to … Continue reading A Welcome Retreat – Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal, Director of Workforce Development, New Moms