03/22/2016
My name is Jelani Hankins, I am 19 years old and a born and bred New Orleanian. My grandfather, Jules Edwards, a owned a shoe repair shop on Magazine Street called "Edwards Shoe Service". Growing up around the shop I was imbued with positive ideas pertaining to work ethic, self discipline, honesty and many other values that help build a strong community. Since my grandfather's passing in 2009, the shoe repair business has been failing. Moved by this, I have been crafting a plan to turn the shop into The New Orleans Shoe Preserve.
The New Orleans Shoe Preserve is a non-profit/for-profit hybrid organization with the mission of creating a space for a community of makers to design and realize custom shoes, handbags and leather goods. We will encourage creativity in the local community through fun and educational programming while making shoemaking an accessible hobby/profession to a wider audience by offering resources and assistance to designers. The New Orleans Shoe Preserve will create an economic machine that cycles the excess capital of the rich and wealthy spent on luxury goods back to the community of New Orleans makers.
In 2013, 39% of children in New Orleans lived in poverty, almost twice the national average. This equates to 30,000 kids; 60,000 hands capable of learning to make a living for themselves through shoemaking and leather working. These are trades not offered in a single school in the city and permanent skills that will aid in a child's moral, social, disciplinary, and financial growth. i just feel this is a little unneccesary but if you like it, keep the paragraph.
The New Orleans Shoe Preserve will source production of a portion of its merchandise to New Orleans youth. Based on a contractual agreement, kids will be able to come in on their own time, gain training and produce merchandise like wallets and handbags to be sold by The New Orleans Shoe Preserve. The student will receive a percentage of the sale and will grow from the experience of receiving payment for his/her creative expression.
Along with merchandise sales we will source revenue from memberships, educational classes, private/public events, summer camps, shoe repair service, grant funding, donations, and corporate partnerships.
The first step in the realization of this organization is a research and development trip to New York and Germany scheduled to take place from June 1st- July 4th!
The first destination is The Brooklyn Shoe Space where a community of makers is already creating and educating in Brooklyn. There, I will gain valuable experience and knowledge pertaining to the business of teaching shoemaking and leather working, scalable growth, operations, and other necessary information. I will also be creating many merchandise samples in the Brooklyn studio including wallets, keychains, and mens and women's footwear. insert info about germany
Trip Schedule:
June 1, 2016 - Land in NYC
June 2 -6, 2016 - BKSS Intro Freebies
June 7, 2016 - Leather Techniques 1 - $110
June 8, 2016 - Leather Techniques 2 - $150
June 11, 2016 - Leather Slipper Class - $?
June 12, 2016 - Sneaker Sketch Class - $200
June 13 - 17, 2016 - Sneaker Making Class with JBF customs - Paid for
June 20 - 24, 2016 Intensive Shoe Making Workshop - $1100
June 25, 2016 - Weaving with Prisage studio - $215
June 26, 2016 - Depart NYC for Germany
July 1 - 4, 2016 - Ashley Marc Hovelle marketing/campaign presentation/advising in Berlin, Germany
July 5, 2016 - Return Home
Things that need to be paid for:
Plane to NY - $230
Plane to Germany- $1000
Stay in New York - $2500
Stay in Germany - Paid For
Classes - (Listed Above)
NOSP Schedule:
June 1 - July 4th, 2016 - R&D Trip
July 2016- January 2017 - Campaign planning, R&D
2017 - Campaign ex*****on, fundraising
Spring 2018 - Begin Renovation of building
Fall 2018 - Grand Opening!
Donations of any size toward this trip will be greatly appreciated. However, if you choose to sponsor a class to help further my knowledge of the craft, I will attend, make the item, and then send it to you!
Investment opportunities in the New Orleans Shoe Preserve are also available. I would be happy to meet personally to answer any questions you have.
Help me encourage, enlighten, and empower my community!
http://gofundme.com/nosprdtrip
Hello! I want to start off by saying THANK YOU for taking time out of your schedule to read my story! It is very much appreciated! My name is Jelani Hankins, I am 19 years old and a born and bred New Orleanian. My grandfather, Jules Edwards, a owned a shoe repair shop on Magazine Street called "E...
