Ms. C

“Well, you’re a business owner. Would you hire me as an employee if I was in the program?” I wanted to jump up and scream, “Yes! Yes! I would hire you! Right now! And, I would walk with you through the journey. I would mentor you in business and help you learn marketable skills. I would teach you purposeful business and what missional entrepreneurship looks like. I would help you see your value and attach you to a greater cause!”
But I didn’t have a business that would allow me that freedom.  I smiled back across the table and told her, “Yes, I personally would hire you. I wouldn’t care if you were in a program. I would be happy to see you were taking steps to turning your life around. But that’s me, and I have a missional heart. Not all companies are like that, but more and more are starting up every day. We’re not going to worry about that right now. We’re going to pray about it and show up with our best foot first when the time comes.”

I walked into the director’s office to sign the instructor log and sat down to chat with her about how the class was going. As we talked about the girls looking for jobs and their career paths, I decided to tell her about my vision. I explained that I wasn’t sure if it was a one, five, or ten-year plan, but that it was definitely on my radar. She smiled back, pointed to the other room, and said, “Well, we certainly have employees ready for you.”

That was the moment that I knew I had to do somehing.  No longer could I watch the mentees that I worked with be passed over in business.  I had to create a social enterprise that would not only provide employment for the residents but also entrepreneurial mentorship.  True societal change would start here.