Andrea's Story, Paying-it-Forward, Social Enterprise Partners: The Wheelhouse & Mighty Tides. No Images? Click here CORRECTION: In last month's newsletter, we featured a solar project on the roof of the Social Enterprise Hub. This exciting collaboration involves many partners, including NexGen NB. We apologize for incorrectly linking to the wrong NexGen. Thanks again to NB's one and only NexGen for partnering on this important solar project at the Hub! JULY 2018Embrace endless possibility and the positivity of the future with wise words from Andrea in this month's learner story. Read about some of the latest innovation and collaboration in our social enterprises: Stone Soup Catering & Cafes, Voila Cleaning Services, and The Impact Market. Learner Story: Andrea Perry-Nowlan (BEST) The Learning Exchange has enhanced and changed my life in ways I really never thought possible. I decided to come to the Learning Exchange as I wanted to feel what it’s like to do something for myself. In my case, it was to achieve my GED. With the help of my instructor Janelle Flanagan and the Learning Exchange, I was able to do that and and so much more! My experience in the Basic Education & Skills Training (B.E.S.T) program was one I will never forget. With help from Janelle, I was able to see past all the negativity and look forward to the positivity of the future. Janelle helped me to realize that it is possible to move forward with my education as well as with my own life. I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience in the B.E.S.T program. I’ve worked on my education as well as being a better version of myself. My accomplishments were putting myself first for once and learning accountability for what I want in life. One of my best accomplishments would be succeeding on the GED exam. I have many future goals like graduating from college and to keep progressing with my life in the most positive of ways. But for now, my next step is to prepare myself for motherhood so I can be the best possible Mom I can be! I’ve learned to accept that everyone’s journey is different, some of us take a little longer, but that doesn’t mean we won’t reach our destination. I continue to prepare myself for college in 2019 with Janelle’s help. The Learning Exchange has taught me to open my mind and heart to possibility because possibility is endless. Because of the Learning Exchange and Janelle, I will never doubt my capability to achieve my goals, and I will be forever thankful for that. Pay It Forward ~ Stone Soup Tokens Worth A Million Bucks! In early July, one of our social enterprises, Stone Soup Cafe, released their pay-it-forward tokens. Tokens can be purchased at Stone Soup Cafe in the Social Enterprise Hub at 139 Prince Edward St. They can then be gifted to a friend, a stranger or someone in need. Thanks to the Community Foundation and an angel donor, the tokens are already out in the community making an impact. As one facebook post summarized it: "I just wanted to share (from Coverdale) that your lunch tokens are making women feel like a million bucks. A woman commented that she felt like a first class citizen because she got to go to a real restaurant and order a sandwich to have a picnic in the park. She also said it was the best sandwich." These charming little wooden tokens are already creating meaningful connections, building community and promoting inclusion through the simple gift of a coffee or a lunch! Come to the cafe to purchase some tokens and get in on the fun! Waterloo Village Welcomes New Neighbours The Learning Exchange and everyone at The Social Enterprise Hub is so pleased to welcome the Wheelhouse of Waterloo Village to the neighbourhood. After much anticipation and a lot of hard work, Haley and Owen Green of Adams Green Accounting, opened the Wheelhouse at the beginning of the month. The Wheelhouse will house their accounting firm and a mix of other non-profits, social enterprises and innovative businesses. This is an exciting step in the revitalization of Waterloo Village and the Greens share the spirit of social entrepreneurship and collaboration of other business and non-profits in the neighbourhood. They contracted one of our social enterprises, Voila Cleaning Services, to clean the building. They also hired Catapult Construction, a social enterprise that employs men experiencing homelessness, to restore the building. We can't wait to see all the great things they'll bring to the neighbourhood! A Mighty Enterprise ~ We're Mighty Excited For The Boys & Girls Club of Saint John Mighty Tides is an apparel company started by youth at The Boys and Girls Club of Saint John as a social enterprise to raise money for the club. We are happy to be able to carry their maritime-inspired shirts in the Impact Market! The clothing hits on two of our Pillars of Impact, as they are both a social enterprise and locally made. Mighty Tides is a great way for youth to learn how to run a business from start to finish and show the MIGHTINESS of our community. If you are looking for support achieving your academic or employment goals, The Learning Exchange has a program for you. Our staff and facilitators are ready to learn about your unique goals and help you create an individualized plan for success!
The Learning Exchange is a leader of social innovation in our community. We have created a number of services for the socially minded consumer. We pride ourselves in looking outside the box to provide our customers and program participants with the highest quality service. Our bottom line at The Learning Exchange has always been the success of every individual that walks through our doors. When people reach their full potential, our whole community benefits. We seek to share these stories in hopes of inspiring new stories of success and community engagement. |