Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is your new, innovative idea to create lasting social change?
2. What drew you to this issue? When and how did you come up with your idea?
Not only is another world possible, She is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. -Arundhati Roy.
(Answered by co-founder Elyssa Serrilli.)
At first I wanted to go back. Then, I wanted to send everyone I knew, especially my family and my students in Newark, to the Ranch so they could see another way of life and be motivated to make changes in their communities. I knew that most people would not be able to afford such a trip. It was then that I got the idea to create an immersive, empowering experience that featured sustainable living, wilderness exploration and community service to residents of New Jersey in New Jersey. Within a year, I discovered the natural beauty of northwest NJ, the existence of scores of outdoor retreat centers and a way to make it all possible.
3. What needs does your organization address?
4. What’s the root cause of the problem you are working to address?How does your idea
tackle this root cause?
to match your nature with Nature. – Joseph Campbell.
Problem: The City of Paterson has severe human health + environmental problems.
Symptoms: Obesity, diabetes, asthma; litter, contamination, vacant lots.
Root Cause: There is poor understanding of the benefits of sustainable living and how to implement it-- grow a garden, cook seasonally, avoid toxic substances, minimize waste.
Solution: GCF will train young leaders from Paterson in sustainable living and teach them how to empower
their communities. We will also give outdoor retreat centers the ability to model and teach sustainable living to
visiting urban students.
Problem: Young adults in Paterson are not reaching their potential and have lower incomes and
education levels than their peers from wealthier areas.
Root Cause: There are inadequate educational and employment opportunities.
Solution: Green Collar Futures will provide leadership and job training for Paterson young adults, en route to
developing new green businesses and economic vitality inside the City of Paterson.
5. What will Green Collar Futures actually do? What specific programs will GCF engage in to deliver your long-term outcomes?
| FALL Energy + Building Teamwork |
WINTER Craft + Reclamation Personal Excellence |
SPRING Gardening + Food Leadership |
Participants will hone their skills in green trades over 9 months and 3 semesters. At the same time, we will use mentoring and peer leadership circles to guide participants to co-create a vibrant, contemporary culture and practice of low-waste, low-energy community living. During spring, the last semester, participants will utilize their newfound knowledge to design and carry out service projects inside the City of Paterson. They will also receive a weeklong intensive course in sustainable small business development and entrepreneurship. For the 10th and final month of the program, participants will transition to the workplace for a 1-month internship with a sustainability-minded business inside the city. Spring service projects and June internships, as well as partner relationships inside and around the City of Paterson, will be used to secure post-service employment or college education for Green Collar Futures graduates. After graduation, alumni will also enjoy an alumni support network, quarterly alumni service days, and mentoring through partners in Paterson.
6. What are Green Collar Futures’ long-term desired outcomes, and how will you measure your progress
toward these outcomes?
GENERAL: Green Collar Futures will be an effective, replicable tool for both individual leadership development
and community economic growth.
GOAL: GCF curriculum is effective and appropriate:
M: Graduates advance their education/career.
M: Our curriculum spreads to other cities/states by year 3.
GOAL: GCF develops meaningful relationships with green businesses in Paterson area (gardening, building
+ energy efficiency, waste management).
M: We partner with green businesses to ensure host sites for June internships.
M: We ensure post-term employment for our graduates either through existing openings in partner agencies or by expanding or creating new green businesses.
GOAL: Graduates develop leadership.
M: Participants lead Spring service projects.
M: Graduates improve scores appreciably from pre-test to post-test.
GOAL:We support our graduates.
M: Participants are placed into appropriate capstone internships each June, that assure successful completion, build on skills learned during the service year, and open doors to post-service employment.
M: We create a network to support our graduates, including monthly alumni support meetings, alumni service days, and mentoring for graduates to team up and take advantage of green enterprise opportunities in their home communities.
7. How your idea is truly innovative?
The Green Collar Futures service year provides a broad curriculum in leadership development, conflict resolution, and community building, as well as an immersion in four seasons of sustainable living and working. There is no program in New Jersey offering this range of key learning experiences.
GCF graduates will be trained and empowered to serve as innovative young leaders, able to make positive changes in their communities for sustainability. Our graduates may return to Paterson’s youth service providers, serving as junior staff with expertise in sustainability and community development. Our graduates may work in small teams to form new green businesses in Paterson, such as community gardens, energy auditors, or craft or sale of local goods.
GCF also distinguishes itself as a non-profit business with a focus on economic sustainability. Unlike nonprofit agencies that consistently rely on foundation support, GCF is designed to be economically viable by the 3rd year. We will achieve this by creating a market for our job training services, by selling the goods and services produced in our worksites, and by establishing a revolving fund for large-scale service projects.
Green Collar Futures has received modest funding to date; co-founders, board, and partners are working pro bono. Our funding so far consists of a $3000 stipend from a 2008 fellowship in sustainable small business development. We also receive in kind business coaching locally from the Institute for Sustainable Enterprise.
Green Collar Futures seeks funding from Echoing Green to take us from development into implementation. Our intent is to grow organically, fundraising and building a core management team in 6 months, and then implementing a 1-month pilot during the first year. The management team will be comprised of 2 Co-Directors (Director of Programming & Director of Business Management) and a Counselor. For this, we estimate a $210K budget. In year 2, GCF will expand to run either 2 larger pilots or the full 10-month program, depending on staff and board determination and on available funding. For the former, the budget would be approximately $500K, for the latter $1.2 million. GCF is designed to be economically viable, relying on foundation support only for start up, and then leveraging workforce development funds, in-kind relationships, a revolving fund, and sales of goods and services.
| Budget Notes: |
||
| Year 1: $210K |
Co-Director, Programming 12-mos Salary: $30,000 from fdn / gov’t grant
Co-Director, Bus. Mgt 6-mos Salary: $30,000 from fdn / gov’t grant Counselor, 6-mos Salary: $25,000 from fdn / gov’t grant Office Space, 6-mos: $12,000 from fdn/ gov’t grant / in-kind Grant Writer, part time: $10,000 from fdn / gov’t grant Website developer, part time: $1,000 from donation Green Building Pilot Budget: $45,000 from foundation / in-kind |
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| Year 2: $500K OR $1200K |
Co-Director, Programming: 12-mos $30EG/$30K= Co-Director, Bus. Mgt 12-mos Counselor, 12-mos Office Space, 12-mos: Website developer, part time: 2 larger pilots @ $150,000 each: OR 10-month program |
60K 60K 50K 24K 1K 300K 1000K |