THE TASTE OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM
Healthy communities have healthy neighbor- hood economies. A key to our neighborhood’s eco- nomic revitalization is the renewal of the Reynolds Avenue Corridor, the primary commercial street within our community. Metanoia is working to build a multi-generational pipeline of entrepreneurs along this street through programming efforts and the ren- ovation of three buildings that we own along the corri- dor.
At Metanoia’s Youth Entrepreneurship Center (YEC), high school students operate screen-print- ing and jewelry making businesses. Students save a portion of the earnings they receive while working within these businesses in college savings accounts that Metanoia agrees to match 3 to 1 if they spend their savings on post-secondary education. Though the YEC is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students continue learning about business and financial literacy virtually. In the fall, students completed a series of classes on financial literacy through a partnership with ServisFirst Bank .
In the next building over, Metanoia is pleased to partner with Lowcountry Local First to offer busi- ness incubation spaces for Black and Brown entre- preneurs. A new business opened its doors in Jan- uary, expanding occupation of Metanoia’s incubator spaces along Reynolds Avenue. Daddy’s Girls Bakery embodies the idea of intergenerational entrepre- neurship. The owners of Daddy’s Girls Bakery, Nate and Chasity Brown, have several children who work alongside them in the family business. Their signa- ture “Charleston Chewies” are well known already, and they provide dessert catering for special events. Daddy’s Girls Bakery also offers coffee and ice cream! The bakery is open and taking orders for people who need a sweet treat. They complement Quan’s BBQ, a local café being nurtured on Reynolds Avenue by Metanoia.
Nate tells us that, “We are so grateful for the opportunity presented to us by Metanoia and Low- country Local First. Metanoia has been helpful in guiding us through the process.”
Lowcountry Local First is working to identify another entrepreneur to occupy additional available space between Daddy’s Girls Bakery and Quan’s BBQ through its Good Enterprises Course, which is tailored to helping Black and Brown entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Metanoia’s vision sees “Reyn- olds Avenue is a hub of economic and social activ- ities.” We are pleased to see progress happening, even in the midst of a challenging season. As Reyn- olds Avenue recovers, our goal is for entrepreneurs who are reflective of the community we serve to en- joy success for years to come.