PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, in partnership with REC Philly, the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, announced the ten local business owners selected as finalists for the inaugural edition . Creating space: reinventing leisure program.
“Congratulations to these ten entrepreneurs! They have so much creativity and passion with a strong community-oriented mindset. This is an exciting next step for Making Space, as we move closer to reaching local small businesses in leisure centers and empowering the next generation of makers and makers,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner.
The new Entrepreneur-in-Residence program attracted more than 600 applications from local makers, makers and entrepreneurs. Selected businesses will be invited to operate their business in an underutilized space at a Philadelphia recreation center. In exchange, entrepreneurs will commit to providing meaningful, free youth programming and mentoring opportunities at the recreation center.
“When you don’t know what to do, you end up doing what you know. This is the problem we face with most of our young people in Philadelphia. I am excited to partner with Making Space to help give our youth more information and opportunities through the concepts of personal finance, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, through the lens of social learning and emotional,” said P. Michael Booneone of the finalists.
Finalists were selected based on the strength of their business idea, their connections to Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods, and their desire to grow their business in a community setting. With support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, each finalist will receive $1,500 in seed funding as well as business planning and development support as they move forward. final consideration.
“I am truly excited and inspired by the Making Space finalists who I have worked with and supported throughout this process,” said Will Toms, co-founder of REC Philly. “Having the chance to know them and their work intimately, see their passion, and be able to add critical strategy to set them up for success has been incredibly rewarding.” Regardless of who wins the final grant and access to the recreation center spaces, our city and its youth will undoubtedly be better off for it.
The ten finalists are invited to submit a formal proposal to the City during the next stage of review. Based on these applications, four winners will be invited to grow their businesses and benefit from free youth programming at a recreation center.
The final winners will be selected based on their submissions. Winners and leisure centers are expected to be announced in spring 2023.
The following Philadelphia-based creators and entrepreneurs will advance to the final second round of selection.
Michael Boone runs the Junior Barber Academy, which introduces young people to creativity through barbering. Students learn how to cut hair and develop soft skills such as communication. Boone plans to open a hairdressing school at a recreation center and plans to offer an after-school program and summer camp.
Vernique Fields is the founder of DJ and agency Into Fields Live Entertainment, which currently does not have any commercial space. Fields is looking to run a DJ, photo booth and production business at a leisure center and teach young people about different areas of entertainment.
Valerie Gay runs Fuse Vox, a fashion and culture brand founded on bringing communities together through textiles. Products are sold online and at a retail outlet. Gay would like to evolve the brand by centralizing business operations in one location in a leisure center. She plans to offer programs for young people after school hours and on weekends.
Rahmi Halaby is the owner of Linden Ave Studio, a multidisciplinary creative studio focused on design and technology with services focused on B2B, design and marketing. The studio has worked on projects with brands such as Converse, New Balance and the WNBA. Halaby plans to teach young people skills in entrepreneurship, design and marketing.
Pal HalI operate USG Print and Press, a printing company that produces clothing including hats, t-shirts, socks and hoodies. Hall wants to run his business in a leisure center to teach young people business communications, accounting and marketing while learning how to use the machines.
Arielle Johnson owns Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, a comic book store and community space formerly located on Frankford Avenue. Johnson is looking to reopen the store as a recreation center and provide youth art, writing and storytelling programs.
Maritza Pedlar runs FLOWS Grocery, a retail and online grocery and personal care company featuring Black-owned products. Pedlar wants to run his business in a leisure center to sell products during set retail hours, while also offering pop-up shops and healthy food demonstrations. It would offer programs on healthy cooking, content creation and entrepreneurship.
Erica Stewart is looking to open Social Impact Cafe, a new community cafe that would be run by staff and volunteers. It would serve healthy dining options while using food reclaimed from Philadelphia. The cafe would feature a rotating menu and a “pay what you can” model. Young people would learn about the restaurant industry, conservation and sustainability.
June Thompson plans to open a recording studio in a leisure center. The studio would record and produce music and radio commercials. It would also connect local talent with producers in distant markets. Youth programs would include teaching music production and professional skills to help young people become the next generation of music producers.
Talia Young runs Fishadelphia, a community seafood program that makes fresh, local seafood accessible to Philadelphia’s diverse communities. Fishadelphia is based in Philadelphia schools and communities, but Young would like to operate the business in a dedicated space in a recreation center. Young plans to teach young people how to run a community-oriented business.
Selected winning entrepreneurs will have access to business-ready space and additional support. Between $25,000 and $75,000, based on need, will be allocated for the design and construction of the commercial space and amenities, made possible by the Knight Foundation.
“Advancing equitable neighborhood development through attractive public spaces has been at the center of our work in Philadelphia,” said Ellen Hwang, director of the Knight Foundation in Philadelphia,” and Making Space is an innovative way to do just that. It also supports collaboration between local creators, entrepreneurs and community leaders who work together to address an unmet community need.
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