The
Molina Center is building a place which equalizes opportunity for young
people, breaking at-risk youth out of chronic poverty, homelessness and
unemployment and tuning them into the reality that solving global challenges locally has a neat side-effect: employment, education and a brighter future for all.
We
will engage at-risk youth with paid internships in sustainability - a
long-term transitional residential program running every aspect of our
social enterprise businesses. Working as a team in an
entrepreneurial environment where everyone is encouraged and supported
to consider their reach and capacity to make a lasting difference. Within a real eco-village community that gives full support for our interns to run every aspect of our business and community life.
Yes, real paid internships for at-risk youth.
With all the wholistic structure and support needed to ensure lasting success.
If you are an intern coming to live and work at The Molina Center:
-
we will meet you where you are - now, and move with you to the future you want
-
we will create mentoring partnerships with key experts in the local community
-
we will recognize that you are a complex being, and work with you to address the root causes of emotional distress and under-achievement
-
you are a valued member of our team, and have great insight and energy to give
-
we will ensure that you are secure financially, comfortably housed, eat good food and are part of a dynamic and inspirational community
What We Have Now:
-
the land: 42 beautiful acres in western Colorado held free and clear by our 501(c)(3) non-profit
-
the facility: two main buildings (one brand new!), plus a number of smaller ones, all the infrastructure in place
-
the people: a well-credentialed board hailing from around the
USA, an Executive Director from Australia, a qualified chef to make that
good food, community and industry partners and a diverse network of
volunteers and supporters
-
the programs: two thoroughly researched and innovative programs - Food Foresters (Permaculture and Urban Gardening) and Natural Builders (sustainable building pre-vocational program)
-
the youth: we already have enough potential interns to book us out several times over
We Need Your Help With:
-
operational funding: startup money to pay our new staff, interns, insurance, materials (once we are established we should be self-sustaining)
-
credibility: we have already spoken to a number of grant-making foundations - the common thread has been "show us that you have broad, grassroots support and get back to us" - they are enthusiastic and keen to help, but no-one wants to be the first in to support a new approach
Hence this crowdfunding campaign. After several years of planning,
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of private financial and in-kind
donations and support, we are coming out of "stealth mode" and asking for your - the general public's - support.
As soon as we reach $30,000 on this campaign, we can start our programs.
However - we need to raise $300,000 to be
sure that we can continue operations in the long term - we will be
working intensely to push our campaign to this goal! Raising up to or beyond $300,000 will ensure that we have enough to fund operations well into 2015 and
convince grant-making foundations that we are a safe investment, so
that we can continue to inspire many more at-risk youth into the future.
If you can't afford a donation, then share this with your friends.
Even just talking about us - saying "check out The Molina Center, they
are doing cool stuff" to everyone you know - will make a real difference
to our collective future. Check out our Referral Prizes shown at the
end of this page to see how we will thank you for your support.
Comments
Post a Comment