Michael 森林 and Neal Richardson first met at Transformation Christian Church, 在St. 路易斯，在2000年代中期.
The two stayed in touch and, eventually, forged a lifelong friendship. That bond they shared led them to a life-changing experience later on. In 2016, the two friends co-founded Dream Builders 4 Equity, 非营利501c, that works to develop economically sustainable and socially engaged communities by growing equity for youth, 企业, 居民, 还有房地产.
Through this philanthropy, Dream Builders 4 Equity is attacking vacant homes in North St. Louis city by employing local minority youth (ages 18–24) and contractors to do large-scale, community-led development projects—putting money and equity back in the pockets of people within the community while creating workforce development and scaling minority-owned contracting 企业.
The company’s vision is a “world in which all communities have the courage to dream, 需要培养的技能, and the resources to own their future.”
“Their efforts can turn into money,伍兹说, a 2014 澳门威尼斯人平台官网 alumnus and is now the president/CEO of the company. “It’s proving to them ownership is a somewhat a key to freedom.”
Minority youth working within the program get hands-on experience that, 伍兹说, will help them in the future. Not only are they making a difference in their respective communities, but they are getting paid for their work, while gaining exposure to real estate from the legal side, 代理方, 银行的原则, 来自投资者的见解, as well as construction experience.
“They’re learning and being exposed to those things,伍兹说.
此外, profits from each house that is sold or restored go back to 森林’ employees, who then can use those funds for post-secondary education.
目前, Dream Builders 4 Equity is working on a 50-property development project that includes rehabbing and building homes for seniors.
“It’s not just about us getting people to live in the community, but repairing houses within the community,伍兹说.
Minority youth working for the nonprofit also have the opportunity to write in their own journals, chronicling all of their experiences during each project. 森林 and his team then compile all of the journals and craft them into a book. Each employee gets their own copy, and then there is a book signing they can attend.
“Every dollar that comes through that door goes to our students,伍兹说.
另外, Dream Builders 4 Equity also has a retail store, 卖衣服的地方, 各类服装, 还有书. The store also houses a screen-printing machine and an art studio, where people can create their own projects and then sell them.
森林’ company also employs fun and games. Dream Builders 4 Equity runs a student-led chess program. High school – and college-aged students visit six different area elementary schools and teach kids how to play chess.
森林, who graduated with a BA in psychology, credits his time at Lindenwood to helping him get to where he is today.
“The biggest thing I took away from Lindenwood is the tenacity it takes to be able to complete something and seeing things through,伍兹说. “At the time I was attending LU, I was working a full-time job, just purchased my own property and published my first book. … I loved that it was testing my mental fortitude. … Definitely being a psychology major, but understanding human behavior is so important in the work that I do.”
The most important thing to 森林 is making an impact on kids’ lives, as well as watching them evolve – personally and professionally.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “The impact is affecting so many people, myself included. I saw me and Neal grow tremendously through this experience. We’ve seen our first group of young people go off and graduate college … it’s extremely rewarding and satisfying to see so many different people winning and benefiting from the presence of our organization.”
