PR: Launch Wilkinsburg Kicks Off with a Cluster of Ten Start-Ups
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One of the 10 participants is the Wilkinsburg Chamber of Commerce, who also partnered with NSR to bring the Launch program to the boro. “Empowering our members & giving them networking opportunities, business exposure & resources to make informed business decisions is what we strive for,” says newly hired assistant executive director Ola Jackson. The Chamber’s primary goal for this program is to increase their capacity to serve members while establishing a co-working office space.
The other organizations in the Launch Wilkinsburg cluster are (in alphabetical order):
- Center for Civic Arts: Artistic Director Jody Guy will develop marketing and fundraising strategies to expand their arts education, civic engagement, creative placemaking, and public art programs.
- ChicKory Café: Caterer Audrey White will develop her fundraising strategy & scout locations for a coffeehouse/third space featuring chicory products, light fare, spoken word & local art.
- Finance Middle School: Entrepreneur Sherry Williams will develop a 6-week pilot program for her “middle school for financial literacy”, with dreams of widespread replication.
- Gizmos Dog Lounge: Dog-lover Khalil Stanback aims to find a location & plan a grand opening for a membership-based, dog-friendly indoor urban space.
- K-Theatre Dance Complex: Artistic director Kontara Morphis will grow her network & raise funds for the second year of this dance school for students 7-17.
- A Peace of Mind, Inc: Offering affordable housing, fitness classes, art therapy & mindfulness programming, APOM exec director Felicia Robinson is looking to build their customer base and develop funding opportunities.
- Speak Life Community: Seeking to “unify youth via workshops, open mics, symposiums & community discussions,” SLC director Violet Scott will grow curriculum from a summer workshop series to a year-round program.
- Virginia Dere Swimwear: Founder-designer Gabrielle Haywood intends to complete a business plan & find start-up capital so that product testing can begin by year’s end.
- Wilkinsburg Christian Housing: Using volunteer & donated resources, WCH’s goal is to rehabilitate some of the more than 700 abandoned properties in the boro to provide affordable homes. Exec director Autumn Butler looks to increase support & labor while developing strategic partnerships.
About New Sun Rising: Since 2005, NSR has empowered more than 400 community leaders, supporting innovative organizations that create economic opportunity, solve social challenges & strengthen the vibrancy of place. NSR’s vision is to promote equitable development in collaboration with the neighborhood partners we serve. For more information or to support program participants, contact Executive Director Scott Wolovich, scott@newsunrising.org, 412-407-9007
