There is an epidemic of apathy and the cure is in the doing..something...about...it...
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
“If a man feels kindly and obliging, his neighbors will feel that way, too, before long. But if he scolds and scowls and criticizes- his neighbors will return scowl for scowl, and add interest!” ~Eleanor H. Porter
A grandma’s wish. I was born in 1969 to a single teenage mother. I grew up income insecure and as very young teen was houseless. Because a lot of people cared I did not end up in a reality that many people face every day. I did sleep for 3 nights in a laundry mat and went to school each morning. I was a freshman in high school. I was lucky I was helped by good people who chose to care. I believe everyone is worthy of care and that many who are in dire situations are “stuck”. I have experienced many things in my lifetime that give me a unique perspective on many of society’s issues. As a caregiver and someone with chronic health issues I have navigated the healthcare system and found many wellness practices that have helped me or people I love. I believe a person is only able to be their best when they are well. When they are fed, rested, and feel safe they can begin to process in a regulated state. There are two groups, Veterans and Aged out foster Children. that stand out as being high risk for becoming homeless and for substance abuse. They also make up a large percentage of the current homeless population. I believe there are solutions to these big problems. I believe that everyone deserves a chance. I believe we can be the change. I believe by providing solutions to some of the problems that cause homelessness we can start with a little prevention. This grandma wants to leave a kinder, safer and healthier world. She also believes it begins with a little wellness and some acts of kindness. Healing is what we all need more of. Ask me how you can help I will help you find a way that fits you.
Mission:
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” Nelson Mandella
The first mission of Concrete Cracks and Dandelion Dreams is to open a wellness center that provides services geared to improve the health and wellness for people who want to bring more movement and vitality to their lives provided by seasoned professionals. The second is to support wounded veterans by adding 10% to every service offered that goes directly to sponsoring a wounded veteran. The third is to host wellness retreats for veterans that provide a variety of services, support and assistance with navigating available programs. The third mission is provide mentorships to foster children who have aged out of the system. The fourth mission hire local tradesmen who are willing to provide apprenticeships to Veterans and our people in the Adult Foster programs. The fifth is to provide affordable housing built by this community.
Objectives:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
To define intentions, expectations and locate people interested in acting on solution-based initiative that believe in inertia. Making sure our mission is clear and well defined. Providing a roadmap to move from phase to phase we can earn the support and involvement of people in the community. We will apply for every possible grant to help facilitate this endeavor and create momentum. Community involvement in apprenticeships will be rewarded with the contracts for build various phases of this project. Pride in ownership through affordable housing provided through this program to all those who participate. Our goals are to create something that works so well it can be easily replicated in any community.
There is a lack of security in the aging sector of working people and a lack of affordable housing available for young people starting out.
Plan:
Phase I:
Upon opening we will offer services to the community provided by seasoned professionals in the wellness industry. We will offer a variety of treatments and service that can be tailored to meet the needs of people with varied challenges based on desired results. We will offer improved health and wellness to our customers. Every customer will know that every service they receive will benefit a wounded veteran. The goal is for every practitioner to earn a living and give the ability for them to give back. Built into the cost of every service or treatment there will 10% of the fee and 50% of all tips going directly toward sponsoring wounded veterans.
Phase II:
Within the first 6 months we will have our first wellness retreat help provide a place of respite, treatments, workshops and care for wounded veterans. There will be a social worker from Veterans Services there to offer assistance in finding available programs and benefits and assistance with navigating the vast and sometimes confusing forms and applications to assist with getting help with everything from job training, housing and programs and directions to networks of help that is available.
Phase III:
We will offer workshops on wellness and self-care to aged out foster children who are struggling and many of us will volunteer to mentor those who have an interest in joining the wellness industry.
Phase IV
Wed will connect with seasoned tradesmen and provide them with interns from a pool of veterans and young people. These tradesmen will be employed to build affordable housing during mentorships. This housing will be paid for through grants and donations. Housing will be offered to all involved in this community.
Who we can help:
People in the local community: Provide the best wellness services and treatments available.
Returning Veterans: Provide wellness retreats, help with finding resources and continuing support as needed.
Fosters: Provide mentorships and workshops that focus on self care.
Community: Hire local tradesmen to literally builds solutions while providing training to veterans and youth without family.
Provide an affordable solution to allow those in the wellness industry to have a chance to ease into retirement.
The founders and those who become a part of this community through training or participating or through sponsorship will have first dibs for this affordable housing. The goal is to start with wellness and end up with a community of people that support the overall wellness and security of all who live there.
The progression of ideas for ways to grow new ideas and improve the local community through outreach are limitless and the ultimate goal is to have the people who go through these workshops and mentorships to go duplicate this model in other communities.
The only threat these principles and ideas face are the attitude that everyone struggling must be lazy and the idea that everyone should be out for themselves. I believe that there are more people in the world who want to help others than not. Most people just don’t know how to help and are overwhelmed by the issues society is facing being hammered into us through every type of media. We all have the choice, every day to be part of the solution or to be the problem. Apathy is the worst disease we face as humans and we at Concrete Cracks and Dandelion Dreams are here with a cure.
Grandma’s jobs:
My personal plan is to work with people with the various modalities of wellness that I have studied and continue to feel are extremely effective in improving mobility and overall function of the body. I will see a client no more than 3-5 times and provide them with a road map and referrals to support the work we did together. I have a system that encompasses breathwork, restorative yoga, massage and an anti-inflammatory diet to maximize healing potential in the body.
To utilize every resource at my disposal including connections I have made with people who are amazing at what they do and create workshops so their wisdom can be put to use.
To find resources and the people best suited to putting those resources to work.
To protect the integrity of this program by enforcing ethical practices by all involved.
Summary:
This business will define success by the lives we touch and the community we build. The successful integration of highly skilled workers as people are trained to do skilled labor will be a boon to this community and will be seen in the workmanship of every project.
We will build a solution based business that has the potential to improve whole communities. We will do our best to prevent future crime by taking people who are most at risk be lost in the cracks and providing the services and tools to promote and maximize their overall wellness. By allowing them to feel their best their potential is maximized. We will also find ways tap that experience into building a community of mentors. This started with the wishes of one grandma, who loves that a dandelion can grow from a wish that blew a seed that can grow from the hardest of places. If a dandelion can break through concrete to thrive, we too can do hard things. I want to plant the seeds of change and see what can grow. I believe in the magic of LOVE.
Building connections on dreams and wishes.
Aiming for the sky and hope it can become a model that spreads to every town until there are no more people to help.