Elpis Enterprises
When sourcing our newest item of branded merch- the timeless hooded sweatshirt- we aimed to find a small local company to partner with. A longtime operations staff suggested Elpis Enterprises for screen printing. Located a stone’s throw from Co-op Partners Warehouse, this modest St. Paul nonprofit has flown under our radar for 20+ years facilitating job training, experience, and placement for young people affected by homelessness. Their aim is to “foster your employment and career pathway building through social enterprise.”
It all began with a bird feeder. In 1994, founder Paul Ramsour volunteered to construct simple wooden feeders with youth in the Whittier neighborhood. “Part of the program was to do something entrepreneurial. They started making bird feeders and selling them,” says Ramsour. With a background in Youth Development Leadership, Ramsour recognized an opportunity for meaningful change through skill-building with youth. “The screen-printing press was added, and those two activities were transferred to a new program design… with a focus on social enterprise and youth employment.” Thus, Elpis Enterprises was born.
The Greek word for “hope”, Elpis engages young people ages 16- 24 in businesses prioritizing positive social impact above profit.
“In 2002, the mission was re-defined to work with youth experiencing homelessness,” explains Ramsour. “In 2014, components were added to focus on work readiness, and more referral agencies were added. Today we work with approximately 14 referring agencies.”
The two primary avenues are a full-service imprint business (custom screen printing and embroidery) and a wood product manufacture business using upcycled cedar fencing to build bird feeders and nesting boxes. Throughout the referral-based program, participants build transferable soft skills, receive hands-on training and paid work in all facets of a small manufacturing business, and meet weekly with a career counselor to map the next steps to their desired career path. Working with fellow trainees and Elpis staff nurtures trust and belonging alongside employment readiness. Participants then bring their skills into the community through educational workshops, networking events, and a yearlong coaching program.
By the end of the program, trainees obtain jobs aligned with their career goals or seek further education through the “Earn and Learn” program. These are full time, 12-week long positions at local businesses. During this time Elpis continues supporting the trainee and the business partner.
Partnering with a local youth-centric organization building job skills, trust, confidence, community AND bird feeders, all while rescuing wood scraps from the landfill sure inspires “elpis” in us- how about you?
Connect with Elpis at elpisenterprises.org and @elpis_enterprises, round up at the register in January to support their work, and purchase one of our new Wedge hoodies for $30, screen printed by Elpis!
