Foundational Fundamentals
Background
A nonprofit, family led organization, whose purpose is to support teenagers and young adults in their developmental years. Our organization prioritizes descendants of the transatlantic slave trade because they may lack fundamental training due to Systemic racism. The truths we share with our participants include, knowledge of self through historical ancestry and strategies for success in the future, like financial literacy and trade skills. Likewise, our skilled mentors form personal and committed relationships with the people they are guiding. We understand the importance of role models, representation, and adequate education. The goal and mission of our organization is to inspire young people to walk in their power and be their best selves.
The Black Boots Initiative
Bagley Enterprises’ Black Boots Initiative: Creating Philadelphia’s Contractor Hub
Motivation:
As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "It's a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his bootstraps." The Black Boots Initiative © is committed to addressing this disparity by creating a full-circle Contractor’s Hub in Philadelphia, providing “work boots” for those in need. The initiative aims to support economic mobility and community revitalization by engaging local laborers in the construction of the Hub.
The Black community in inner-city America faces numerous challenges, including violence and healthcare disparities, systemic poverty, housing insecurity, food deserts, divesting, gentrification, and inadequate educational and developmental programs. Addressing these issues requires generational wealth through home-ownership, job-security, and entrepreneurship. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of blue-collar jobs, which offer sustainable wages and opportunities for professional development. Training in this industry can equip individuals with modernized skills and job security, promoting economic stability and upward mobility.
Despite these challenges, Philadelphia is a city with pride in its neighborhoods, sports teams, and state. Support from political leaders, community organizations, commercial businesses, and financial institutions is critical to the city's prosperity. The finance industry has made promises to increase diversity and address equity concerns, and real estate owned properties can provide opportunities for contract opportunities and local reinvestment. By supporting the Black Boots Initiative ©, the governor, mayor, and council people have an opportunity to demonstrate their dedication to the city's most vulnerable citizens.
Program Overview:
The Black Boots Initiative © is a comprehensive workforce development program that provides on-the-job training for targeted stakeholders, including people of color, low-income individuals, and those with outdated skill sets. Qualified Philadelphia-based contractors offer training in Unskilled Labor, HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Masonry, Carpentry, Roofing, and Sheet Metal work, along with tools for real estate development and financial planning to promote job placement and entrepreneurship.
The Contractor’s Hub will serve as a multi-purpose space for contractors, offering storage for equipment and materials, office space, and secure off-street parking for large vehicles. The Hub will also serve as a community gathering space and be designed to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, offering future opportunities for green-collar jobs and promoting sustainability and renewable energy. The program benefits all participants, including food truck vendors serving the contractors and increased jobs resulting from community investment. The Black Boots Initiative © is a replicable model that shows genuine care for people, celebrating cultural diversity and promoting the importance of both hard and soft skills.