PBA April 2010 eNewsletter Highlights Project Catalyst
Leadership Portland community project helps at-risk youth
One component of the Alliance’s Leadership Portland program is a community impact project, and this year ice cream became a focus for one Leadership Portland team called Project Catalyst. Members of Project Catalyst chose to work with with New Avenues for Youth (NAFY), a Portland-based nonprofit that helps at-risk and homeless youth to exit street life and lead healthy, independent lives. Five years ago, NAFY won a competitive process to operate the Ben and Jerry’s “Partner Shop” franchise at 524 SW Yamhill. The ‘Scoop Shop’ serves as a workforce training opportunity for youth in the NAFY programs. Project Catalyst is working with NAFY to develop an updated business plan for the Ben and Jerry’s Scoop Shop. The five-year business plan will assist NAFY in:
- Moving the Scoop Shop to a more sustainable revenue stream;
- Creating additional jobs and/or job-readiness for homeless and at-risk youth; and
- Solidifying the NAFY brand in relation to the Ben and Jerry’s franchise.
Because of the successful involvement with Leadership Portland, the Yamhill Scoop Shop has renamed Ben & Jerry’s flavor Berry Berry Extraordinary in honor of the Portland Business Alliance. The Project Catalyst team is: Kirsten Pennington, CH2M Hill; Jennifer Gilstrap Hearn, Wayfinders Strategy; Chris Oxley, Rose Quarter; Brian Speer, Wells Fargo; Karin Wandtke, McDonald Jacobs
Published in Leadership on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010