Young entrepreneurs create healthy treatments in MPLS
A vegetable -based cake business in Northern Minneapolis is blooming and children are employees who are gardening, baking and receiving orders. Bakery Green Garden, also known as GGB, began 10 years ago. It has been a source for the community for fresh foods and cakes in what is considered a food dessert.
Minneapolis (Fox 9) – A vegetable -based cake business in Northern Minneapolis is blooming and children are employees who are gardening, baking and receiving orders.
Bakery Green Garden, also known as GGB, began 10 years ago. It has been a source for the community for fresh foods and cakes in what is considered a food dessert.
Bakery Green Garden is creating new professionals
What do we know:
In 2014, the youth in the Heritage Park neighborhood worked to raise money for a friend who was injured in a car accident. They came with the idea of selling cakes as a way to show their support.
This is when Bakery Green Garden was born. His mission has to do and has always been about building and supporting people in the community.
“They surprise us very much with how eager they are to work,” said Shakyira Jackson’s youth kitchen manager. “They always have a lot of ideas.”
For years, children have received classes of cooking, gardening and youth food in Heritage Park. This has given them the unique opportunity to work in a business environment and learn about accessing healthy food options.
“By the time they are in high school, they are able to speak a crowd in front of a crowd, they are able to lead their own meetings, so many already have those skills,” Shakyira said.
One-third of Bakery’s profits are reinvested again in business, one-third is separated to pay employees, and one-third is again donated in the neighborhood for a charity of their choice.
In the packaging, the GGB keeps the eco-friendly business. Available essences include items such as lemon zucchini cake, chocolate beetroot cake, chocolate jalapeno cookie, sweet potato donuts of East Africa and more.
GGB uses a East African spice for sweet potato donuts with African spices. The recipe was provided by someone in the community.
Youth recognize the impact of this unique opportunity
Impact:
Adults are there just to support and oversee operations.
Children are divided into crews and levels. Most want to work at the executive level, which gives them the opportunity to travel to different conferences and treat communications like emails – a much greater responsibility.
There is also a community crew, sales crew, baking crew, garden crew and royal art crew.
“Youth can allow their voices to be heard in business,” 15-year-old Sarod Williams said.
Williams is a part of the executive team. He was included through summer programs and, when he was 13 years old, he became a youth entrepreneur at GGB.
“It’s not something that is given to many people, so honestly makes me feel like I have an opportunity,” he said.
After about 4.5 years in GGB, 17-year-old night is also part of the executive team. It is the sales lead that manages all e -mail sales mail.
“We’re busy all the time,” he said as he washed the dishes.
Night loves the idea of being in his community while supporting his community at the same time. His hope is for GGB to help the community grow, and even open another place in Minneapolis.
Not only that, but Night realized how much business has helped him bake and become more vocal than he was when he started.
“At first it was really challenging because I was timid,” he says.
He has a dream of pursuing college and studying the science and engineering of computers.
His associate Roya Medeiros, 15, also has big dreams. She would like to work in finance and, now, she has a lot of her head.
RAIA is the leading financial officer of GGB.
“I handle how we earn our money and where our money goes. For now, I’m working to redo our net value,” she says.
Year after year, starting at the age of 9, RAIA applied to work at GGB before she finally took her chance to 13.
“I feel like working with GGB gives me a lot of opportunities,” she said. “I feel like giving me a goal. If I wasn’t here now, I would be in my bed playing Mortal Kombs.”
Most young people agree. They think what they could do if it weren’t for GGB. They have learned the true meaning of hard work, dedication and compassion.
Recently, young people supported a child passing cancer treatment and began a neighborhood decoration initiative.
How it works:
Since young entrepreneurs are at school during the day, some young people work once or twice a week. The executive/leader team works on Monday-Friday from 4am to 8am, their days of the week have been spent working on a variety of projects such as social media content, furnace work, meetings and more.
GGB has what you call “Youth Opportunity” which is for 18-24 years old children who help run business.
The shop in the 815 Sumner Court is open a few days a week and while it is closed, the GGB also has furnace items available in farmers’ markets.
GGB prefers employees to live in Northern Minneapolis, but the business has partnerships where it is able to give young people in the surrounding areas an opportunity to participate.
The store’s shop is open 9am to 12 afternoon on Wednesday and Saturdays from 9am to 3rd afternoon
If you want to volunteer or partner for a community event, you can email the youth manager Layne Benton here.