Our Story
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The
History of Food From the 'Hood
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At first, the idea was simple: restore a
weed-infested garden behind the Crenshaw High School
football field and donate the food grown to feed the
needy. The students also needed a financial return
for their effort. They started a scholarship program
with 50 percent of the net profit. |
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Together with science teacher Tammy Bird and
volunteer business consultant Melinda McMullen, the
students created a company they called Food From the
'Hood. |
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"As a teacher, I was amazed to see the
student-managers take such an interest in their
company," said science teacher and former company
advisor Tammy Bird. "Whether it was English, Math or
Science, they were willing to learn what they had to
learn to create and manage a successful company.
Food From the 'Hood has helped these students apply
what they are learning, in the classroom." |
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On December 18, 1992, Food From the 'Hood harvested
its first crop and donated 100 percent of its
produce to Helpers for the Home less and the Hungry,
a local area food bank. " Giving food to the needy
really brought out the holiday spirit in all of us."
said founding student Jaynell Grayson. |
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Food From the 'Hood Goes
public
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In July 1993, Food From the 'Hood
attended its first public Farmers'
Market in Santa Monica, where the
company sold $150 worth of produce
in just 30 minutes. Something even
more important happened at that
market. As aggressive entrepreneurs,
the student-managers at Food From
the 'Hood learned the importance of
listening to the customer, when
someone suggested Food From the
'Hood should create and market its
own brand name product. |
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In September 1993, when school was
back in session, the
student-managers researched the food
industry and conducted a survey. The
student managers came to an
astounding conclusion, that salad
dressing was one of the best selling
food products. Food From the 'Hood
contacted Rebuild Los Angeles for
their first grant in hopes of
turning the vegetable gardens into a
business. |
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"We wanted to work with companies
that were in economically
disadvantaged areas of Los Angeles,"
said founding student-manager Mark
Sarria. "Although our primary goal
is to create jobs for youth, we want
to impact the adult economy as
well." |
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Rebuild Los Angeles, introduced Food
From the 'Hood to Sweet Adelaide, a
leading salad dressing co-packer and
manufacturer. Working with food
technologist from Sweet Adelaide,
Food From the 'Hood converted its
homemade salad dressing into a
reproducible commercial product.
After six tests and reformulation,
Food From the 'Hoods "Straight Out'
the Garden" Creamy Italian Dressing
was born. |
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Food From the 'Hood received a
telephone call from a man who said
his name was Norris Bernstein. "Mr.
Bernstein?" Tammy asked, " as in
Bernstein's salad dressing?" |
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"Yes." He said, "but I'd rather you
call me Norris." |
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With Bernstein's guidance, the
student-managers implemented their
financial projections, marketing
plan and distribution strategy. Food
From the 'Hood acquire a new
partnership with Marketing
Specialists Southern California, a
major food broker. Working with
Marketing Specialists, the
student-managers met with leading
grocery store chains to introduce
their product. Within two months,
they had achieved 100% distribution
in all major grocery stores.
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Rebuild Los Angeles, presented the
Food From the 'Hood with a check for
$50,000 to be used to make the salad
dressing dream a reality. Within six
weeks, Food From the 'Hood created
its corporate office and completed
its first "batch" of dressing. |
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Networking Success |
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November 1, 1994 was a milestone day
for the student-managers at Food
From the 'Hood. Prince Charles of
England came to eat lunch in the
garden. Carlos Lopez, a program
graduate, now attending college at
Cal Poly Pomona, invited him. How
did he do it? "It was just something
to do, I wanted to see if I could
really make it happen, and it really
did happen." |
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More than Business
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The program's most unique innovation
is that "student-managers"
participate in running every aspect
of the business. The
"student-managers" design, develop,
and create products; plant, maintain
and harvest their own garden; make
marketing decisions, develop
business plans, and run the daily
operations. Each student "banks" his
or her work hours, and receives
payment in the form of a direct
scholarship paid to their post-
secondary school, college or
university. The program also
provides academic tutoring, SAT and
college entrance exams preparation,
mentoring, and life skills training. |
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Food From the 'Hood Spreads Out
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In May 1999, three people from Food
From the 'Hood traveled to London,
England along with sales
representatives, to help a group of
students at Tower Hamlets (high
school) start a program similar to
Food From the 'Hood. For one week,
they brainstormed possible names,
products and marketing strategies
for their new company. |
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Although they decided not to stay
under the Food From the 'Hood's
name, students from Hamlets were
thankful for the help and guidance
and they attribute much of their
enthusiasm and success to Food From
the 'Hood people. |
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"This was a great experience for all
of us," said student-owner Terry
Wilson. All of the students realized
what an impact they have made around
the globe. |
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Summer 2000, Food From the 'Hood
managers participated in the "More
Than Food" exhibit at the Worlds
Fair in Hanover, Germany. In
cooperation with youth from Germany
and Egypt, several groups of
students worked on a business plan
and an organizational plan for a
youth centered food business. As a
result, Food From the 'Hood has been
awarded a scholarship to Germany' s
prestigious Witten-Herdecke
University for one deserving young
entrepreneur. |
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Where Are They Now? |
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To date, Food From the 'Hood has
awarded over $140,000 in college
scholarships to the
student-managers. 77 program
graduates have attended two-year or
four-year colleges or technical
schools. Student Managers have been
accepted to colleges and
universities throughout the nation
including Cal State L.A, University
of the Pacific, Pitzer College,
Concordia University, Babson
College, Howard University, San
Diego State, Tuskegee Institute,
Morehouse, Stanford, University of
California at Berkeley, Cal Poly
Pomona, Clark-Atlanta, University of
North California, USC, Chapman
University, and much more. 20
program graduates receives their
college degree in 2000, with 5 of
them entering postgraduate programs.
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Statement of Organizational Need |
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We know that our program works. What
this speaks to from an
organizational standpoint is the
need to: |
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1) Expand the program to reach more
students, locally and through
replication. |
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2) Dedicate added work hours for new
and returning youth. |
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3) Add additional training support
for business, academic, and life
skills development modules. |
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4) Expand FFTH's distribution,
sales, and product line, directly
impacting students financial ability
to attend college. |
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