T.E.A NEWS
THE ENTREPRENEUR ACADEMY
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FUTURE
By Tarious Porter
Written in the Communicator a DPS newspaper
In 2013, Detroit was declared the most miserable city in America by Forbes. In the past few years urban gardening and farming has grown in popularity as a new way to remove blight in Detroit's most economically devastated neighborhoods.
Community revitalization isn't the only benefit from urban agricultural. Many residents have taken up gardening as a means to have easier accessibility to produce and due to all the large quantities of unused land there are ample amounts of space to use Experts contend urban agriculture provides benefits to cities like Detroit where our migration and business disinvestment has created massive land abandonment and social problems.
"Urban gardening as a neighborhood redevelopment strategy has a powerful transformative effect on the urban landscape, said Dr. Theodore Pride, a sociologist at the University of Michigan-Flint who researches urban agriculture in Detroit. "By converting vacant land into community assets and promoting residents cooperation, urban agriculture can transform declining and blighted neighborhoods into vibrant and desirable destinations."
Many companies, activist and community groups have successfully used urban agriculture to improve some of Detroit's most destitute neighborhoods. The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, Neighbors Building Brightmoor, and Hantz Farms have all contributed to Detroit's "green" makeover.
Residents are also seeing the importance of urban gardening. "It's great inner-city kids and adults have, access to fresh fruity and veggies, " said Margaret Wallace, a metro Detroit local.
Along with the high rates of poverty and the limited food choices Detroit has been labeled a food desert. That's why Detroit has and will continue to benefit from farming in the city.
Urban gardening is working to empower Detroit residents and beautify abandoned spaces scattered throughout the city. as more citizens join and support the urban agriculture cause, the city's reputation will drastically change. One day we might be Forbes' No. 1 city to live in.
Written in the Communicator a DPS newspaper
In 2013, Detroit was declared the most miserable city in America by Forbes. In the past few years urban gardening and farming has grown in popularity as a new way to remove blight in Detroit's most economically devastated neighborhoods.
Community revitalization isn't the only benefit from urban agricultural. Many residents have taken up gardening as a means to have easier accessibility to produce and due to all the large quantities of unused land there are ample amounts of space to use Experts contend urban agriculture provides benefits to cities like Detroit where our migration and business disinvestment has created massive land abandonment and social problems.
"Urban gardening as a neighborhood redevelopment strategy has a powerful transformative effect on the urban landscape, said Dr. Theodore Pride, a sociologist at the University of Michigan-Flint who researches urban agriculture in Detroit. "By converting vacant land into community assets and promoting residents cooperation, urban agriculture can transform declining and blighted neighborhoods into vibrant and desirable destinations."
Many companies, activist and community groups have successfully used urban agriculture to improve some of Detroit's most destitute neighborhoods. The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, Neighbors Building Brightmoor, and Hantz Farms have all contributed to Detroit's "green" makeover.
Residents are also seeing the importance of urban gardening. "It's great inner-city kids and adults have, access to fresh fruity and veggies, " said Margaret Wallace, a metro Detroit local.
Along with the high rates of poverty and the limited food choices Detroit has been labeled a food desert. That's why Detroit has and will continue to benefit from farming in the city.
Urban gardening is working to empower Detroit residents and beautify abandoned spaces scattered throughout the city. as more citizens join and support the urban agriculture cause, the city's reputation will drastically change. One day we might be Forbes' No. 1 city to live in.
BUSINESS COMMUNITY NEWS
Finding a Business Mentor
In the first months of opening your business, you’ll need to make many important decisions. But you don’t have to make every decision on your own. Ultimately, you’re responsible for your business, but you can always consult a mentor for advice.
Here are some steps for finding and working with a mentor for your new small business venture.
Government-Sponsored Mentor Organizations
The government offers a great deal of free resources and services to support small business owners, both online and in person:
Who do you know? Do you have a previous boss who inspired you or a friend who is a successful business owner? Ask that person to be your mentor, and learn from his or her advice and best practices. Just be prepared to share with them why you chose them in particular, your goals and what you are looking for from them.
Working with a Mentor
If you decide to work with a mentoring organization, ensure there is a formal mentor-protégé structure in place. If you work with an individual, you’ll need to establish a mutually beneficial, structured relationship. Remember these tips about mentoring:
Here are some steps for finding and working with a mentor for your new small business venture.
Government-Sponsored Mentor Organizations
The government offers a great deal of free resources and services to support small business owners, both online and in person:
- SCORE Mentors: Sponsored by SBA, SCORE provides free and confidential counseling, mentoring and advice to small business owners nationwide via a network of business executives, leaders and volunteers.
- Small Business Development Centers: SBDCs provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners.
- Women’s Business Centers: WBCs provides business training and counseling with the unique needs of women entrepreneurs in mind.
- Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers: VBOCs provide veterans with entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring.
- Minority Business Development Agency: MBDA advisors help minority business owners gain access to capital, contracts, market research and general business consulting.
- Additional federal counseling programs can be found on Business.USA.gov.
Who do you know? Do you have a previous boss who inspired you or a friend who is a successful business owner? Ask that person to be your mentor, and learn from his or her advice and best practices. Just be prepared to share with them why you chose them in particular, your goals and what you are looking for from them.
Working with a Mentor
If you decide to work with a mentoring organization, ensure there is a formal mentor-protégé structure in place. If you work with an individual, you’ll need to establish a mutually beneficial, structured relationship. Remember these tips about mentoring:
- Be organized, prepared and consistent. Make sure you are respectful of your mentor’s time.
- Do not expect your mentor to run your business for you or make decisions for you. You should have realistic expectations about what a mentor can provide you.
- Plan your mentoring sessions in advance. These could be as simple as having a one-on-one meeting once a month to discuss business goals, obstacles and regulatory requirements that you don’t understand.
- Take notes, create action items and be prepared to review progress during your next session.
- Thank your mentor for his or her time and assistance with your business decision-making skills.