IN THIS POST
Our 2025 Accelerator is now in full swing!Â
This year in the Accelerator, we’re bringing together pairs of leaders from 10 employment social enterprises for our six-month program. These folks hail from all over the U.S., and their organizations each focus on building opportunity for untapped talent.
Together, and with the support of a network of coaches, these 20 fellows are developing strategies and plans for action to grow and strengthen their businesses.Â
Get to know a little more about each of these leaders and these organizations now — and beneath that, check out a couple snapshots from the cohort’s in-person retreat in Austin, Texas, this March!
AnnieCannons | Oakland, CAÂ
Jakki Bedsole & Laura Hackney join us from Annie Cannons in Oakland. At AnnieCannons, coding training and job readiness prep are paired with community connection to support individuals who have experienced human trafficking launch sustainable tech careers.Â
DC Central Kitchen | Washington, DCÂ
Dusty Cooper & Yael Reichler join us from DC Central Kitchen, where hands-on culinary job training leads to living wage jobs delivering farm-to-school meals, supplying fresh produce to corner stores, and operating fast-casual cafes through DC.
Dion’s Chicago Dream | Chicago, IL
Danielle S. Parker & Dion Dawson join us from Dion's Chicago Dream, an employment social enterprise revolutionizing food equity through last-mile delivery and logistics. Dion’s expands access to fresh produce for Chicago families and creates living-wage jobs for people overcoming barriers to employment.
Dragonfly Thrift Boutique | Miami, FL
Christina Biandola & Mahlia Lidquist lead the team at Dragonfly Thrift Boutique in Miami, a social enterprise thrift boutique that employs women returning home from incarceration and connects them with housing and other wraparound support as they return home.
Living Pono Project | Maui, HI
Chana Makale’a Dudoit Ane & Kaulana Thibedoux hail from Maui and represent Living Pono Project. Grounded in their values of ohana (family), kuleana (responsibility), and being pono (doing the right thing), The Living Pono Project’s social enterprise includes sustainable livestock production, a native nursery, crop production, nutrient and mulching, and landscape restoration.
OIC, Inc. of Rocky Mount | Rocky Mount, NC
Cooper Blackwell & Mysha Holland of OIC of Rocky Mount join the cohort from eastern North Carolina. Their health center social enterprise has delivered comprehensive healthcare, construction services, and high-quality career training for untapped talent for 50 years.
RK Contractors LLC | Kansas City, MO
Elvis Eneh & Reda Ibrahim represent us from RK Contractors, a construction employment social enterprise operating in Kansas City, Missouri. RK Contractors delivers master-level services to the community while creating employment and training opportunities for immigrants and Missourians overcoming barriers to employment.
Spir Candle Co. Seattle, WA
Nate Stone & Shane Schachere join the cohort from Spir Candle Co. Each item sold by Spir is handmade by young men with periods of incarceration. On the job, they receive mentorship, a space to breathe, and the opportunity to become who they aspire to be.
Unlocked Labs | St. Louis, MO
Christopher Santillan & Rosa Mayer join the cohort from Unlocked Labs, a social enterprise founded by justice-impacted technologists dedicated to improving access to education for those still incarcerated. Based out of St. Louis, they operate a digital learning platform for incarcerated students to deliver web development and coding education programs.
Wrigley Coffee | Long Beach, CA
Andrew Nishimoto & Liz Luevano are crafting community and opportunity at Wrigley Coffee in Long Beach, California. At this coffeehouse, individuals overcoming barriers to employment brew up specialty coffee in a trauma-informed workplace, and receive coaching and training to grow as skilled leaders.
