SoHarlem

2022 Cultural Industries Incubator Program Highlights- Designers' Studio was open for business throughout 2022; activities included classes, training, consultations and professional development sessions. - Advanced the professional development of 10 local Entrepreneurs in Residence and their micro-businesses related to the fashion industry, that create engaging work opportunities in their community;- Mentored 12 Apprentices- Conducted up to 50 "pop-up" shopping days scheduled from September through December 23, offered a series of six in-person events, building on our past practice of drawing on the vision and talents of our creative collective to engage and educate the general public with over 150 in attendance (the maximum allowed by the fire-department), the inaugural event on September 24 celebrated all of the members of the collective, and featured the announcement of fellowships awarded to two emerging designers by Harlem legend Dapper Dan.- Met the need for jobs in the neighborhood by employing as many as six residents in a variety of roles, including a lead trainer, principal seamstress, social media specialist, studio coordinator and design apprentices;

Training Institute: Workforce Development- Over the course of two twelve week sessions, trained 15 unemployed and underemployed residents, ranging in age from 19 to 56; in addition to instruction on how to sew, cut patterns and operate equipment, we helped them think about career goals, based on a newly acquired understanding of fashion and other related industries and with realistic financial expectations; all of the participants in our training program received stipends to help offset related expenses.- Helped to secure job placements for at least 10 out of the 15 trainees;- The successful completion of two training sessions in 2021 put in place the groundwork for the program's continuation in 2022; a first session began the first week in February.