This project will develop an outline for youth entrepreneurship in the North Side of Flint, Michigan with the help of WOW Outreach of Flint. The report will further WOW Outreach’s goals of reducing violence through positive opportunities and increasing economic opportunities through the use of Flint’s Community Capitals Framework. Through this research WOW Outreach will be able to address critical development needs, specifically focusing on youth empowerment, and allow youth entrepreneurship to grow and prosper in the North Side of Flint

Psalm Bingham

Stephen Gasteyer

Humanities Commons

Strategy for Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship:An assessment of  WOW Outreach, Flint, MIPsalm M. Bingham, B.A.  2020 MSU SociologyDr. Stephen Gasteyer, Assoc. Prof. Sociology, MSUBackground  Flint, MI – Challenges for Youth Empowerment and Community Development  Structural Violence  Flint Water Crisis High levels of  poverty  Subjective Violence High crime – Recurring levels of  violent crime, murder rates How can organizations intervene to provide hope, and break cycles of  violence, create the conditions for entrepreneurial development? Address this through an assessment of  WOW Outreach  -- a non-profit and community organization WOW Outreach Established in 2007, WOW Outreach is dedicated to  1) building “safe neighborhoods”  2) “igniting action and collaboration among people and organization” and  3) “giv[ing] hope to youth and families”  (from Website -- https://www.wowoutreach.org/about).  Key Questions for this Assessment How does a community based organization: Interrupt and prevent violence? Build the assets that support and affirm life? Build on existing community assets to create opportunities for empowerment and development? Integrate with community wide development initiatives?Violence Prevention, Community Development, Youth Empowerment Building on Literature  Violence as structural, not just interpersonal (Farmer 1999; Galtung 1969) Violence prevention – engaging – involves engaging with community to address factors that may create conditions for community violence (Bowen 2004; Fowler and Braciszewski 2009) Empirical evidence shows that community development interventions –including urban greening – reduces crime and violence (Sharkey, et al. 2017; Garvin, et al. 2012; Sadler, et al. 2017)Community Asset Development Community Capitals Framework  (Flora, et al. 2016; Green and Haines 2016) Stocks of  assets that can be developed in tandem for community outcomes Seven Capitals – Interconnected Create conditions for development Are built through development Methods of  Inquiry  Initial Methods:  Direct engagement and interviews with WOW Outreach to understand programming, goals, outcomes, etc.;  Interviews with key informant residents Met with Board – but COVID-19 “Stay at Home, Stay in Place” order prevented further face to face interaction Plan B – analysis of  project documents Employed the community capitals framework (CCF) in the analysis of  written notes and reporting documents provided by WOW Outreach. Key findings Multiple types of  initiatives are utilized to mitigate structural violence and development individual and community assets Projects intervene at the local human needs level Projects also develop social systems and networks that support youth as they develop Provide opportunities for advancementProject Activities & Capital RelationsWOW Program WOW GOALS ACTIVITIES CAPITALS IN ACTIVITIESSUPPORTING CAPITALSClean & Green Contributes to cleaner community and infrastructureManaging overs 70 community lots, mowing, yard work,  Human capital- manual labor skills, Cultural capital – service and community care; Natural capital – the importance of soil, well cared for yardsBuilt capital – cleaning lots, natural capital - yardwork  Destiny House Serve Foster youth who age out of the systemProviding housing for foster youth in the communityHuman capital; Cultural capital –ways of acting and behavingBuilt capital – housing for specific community in FlintYouth Ambassadors Engagement with community Youth for developmentDeveloping skills in leadership and resilience Human capital, social capital Built capital – facilityNatural capital –transportation & production of goodsLiving Room Conversations Practice outreach & engagement Programs & activities that promote health & well-beingHuman capital – Social capital Financial capital – donors & sponsorships; Political capital – access to programs; Human capital – health servicesTendaji Talks Practice outreach & engagement Members of the community to learn about the diverse ethnic groups residing within the City of Flint Cultural capitalSocial capitalHuman Capital - community members gain knowledge on different cultures and expose themselves to ethnic information Unity March Practice outreach & engagement Residents address problematic issues that persist in the community and define new opportunities to implement positive change Social capitalPolitical capital Human Capital, Financial capital Social Capital– connecting neighborhoods Project outcomes WOW Outreach engages in the critical activities that help communities define Community Development to solve problems, improve quality of  life for residents, (re)create positive social interaction, oppose negative development, create economic vitality and create local opportunities (Green & Haines, 36).  Programming for underserved youth and community development has leveraged almost all of  the assets.  WOW & the Flint Master Plan  The City of  Flint Master Plan is a blueprint for the future, guiding development and investment in the City for the next 20 years. It is a vision of  what the community desires to become in the future.  The Flint Master Plan seeks to increase North Flint residents’ satisfaction with the quality of  life in their neighborhoods by: advocating for and supporting policy, systems and environment changes that provide equitable access to safe, healthy and vibrant communities.   Goal to improve the overall quality of  life and enrich the human experience in North Flint. WOW and Flint Master Plan WOW Outreach is committed to the same priority through offering services in which Youth are provided support and opportunities to invest in their human capital.  WOW Outreach is also aligned with the guiding principles of  Adapting to Change, Quality of  Life & Youth listed in the City of  Flint Master Plan summary. Empowering Residents, Preventing Violence WOW Outreach generates constructive conversation around difficult topics, ignites action and collaboration among people and communities, and most importantly gives hope to youth and families living in historically disinvested neighborhoods. Creating opportunities for Entrepreneurial Development in Flint At the center of  programming for undeserved youth are residents of  the community that have gifts and skills  “Flint’s neighborhoods need community anchors,” and “quality of  life is key to keeping our youth here.” Relationship to EntrepreneurshipAlleviates violence and minimizes crime in neighborhoodsEnsure appropriateness of  individual violence free lifestyles plans and referrals to community resources.  The relationship continues to grow as we develop programming to ensure youth and community are engaged  to the protective factors necessary for resiliency. Conclusions CCF is built on a web of  relationships that exist within any given community that allows people to succeed or advance through associating together.  The commitment by WOW Outreach to achieving community-oriented change and improved quality of  life enacts violence prevention through multiple areas of  programming.   This empowerment of  youth can create conditions of  entrepreneurial development in Flint.Thank you Questions?

Strategy for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship: An assessment of WOW Outreach, Flint, MI

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Strategy for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship: An assessment of WOW Outreach, Flint, MI

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