A message from Paula Engels:
Hi there,
After a wonderful first meeting of our Once Upon a School project with a highly energized group of brainstormers, it is my pleasure to offer you a condensed summary and call to action.
(Putting this all together was a big task that was completed by Claudia Rawas, Janie Addleman and myself.)
WHAT THE WHOLE GROUP AGREED UPON:
- we want to start with a centre that follows the Dave Eggers model
- retail component
- focus on literacy/writing (at least at first)
- staffed by one-on-one volunteer tutor/mentors
- the location we choose should be based upon community need, school proximity/access
- we should start in English with the goal of becoming bilingual
HOW WE BEGIN:
- we need to create some committees to:
- fully clarify our ‘mission’
- focus of our work with kids/ goals
- type of retail space (Jamie Oliver/healthy food of some kind?)
- kid-attractive ideas (Private I, futuristic…?)
- inviting to community (café, cooking classes…?)
- research (contacts) the EMSB, individual schools, community centres, CLSC’s, churches, women’s groups, social service agencies etc. to determine community needs in this area, create community relationships and gain support for our project
- look into possible locations and potential deals on rent (free space/abandoned buildings?)
- decide on square footage needed for retail space / student space
- must be wheelchair accessible
- potential to include a kitchen at some point?
- begin research into fund-raising possibilities:
- foundations that give grants
- corporate donations/volunteer programs
- government
- recruit volunteers
- first step look into getting CEGEP/University students to:
- create a Business Plan for us in order to get support.
- do the legal research:
- registering as a non-profit (how to combine retail and tutoring)
- permits
- police clearance to work with kids
- permit for kitchen?
- set up our accounting etc.
- research Government grants/corporate donations/foundations etc. to get $$
- next step look for designer/builder volunteers (CEGEPS, universities, general community)
- then open doors to tutor/mentor/storefront volunteers from universities, CEGEPS, PWAC (professional writers)…
PHASE 2:
- get some exposure/publicity
- media
- website
- social media/Blog
- promotional products to sell through schools membership cards
- get materials donated
- furniture/kitchen supplies
- stationary supplies
- computers
- art
- internet
- etc.
- fix up space
- coordinate with schools etc. to get clients
- organize volunteer tutor schedule
- GO!
PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION YOU WANT TO BEGIN TO MAKE, AND SIGN UP FOR ONE OR MORE COMMITTEES. WE WILL ORGANIZE ANOTHER MEETING AT THE END OF MAY.
THANKS!
