Seeds of Promise is a 501c3 non-profit organization, which is a dba of Community Development Impact Ministration, Inc.. Seeds is a place-based urban community improvement initiative located in the Southeast community of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Seeds of Promise launched from the vision of our Founder and Executive Director, Ronald Jimmerson. He had already launched Cascade Engineering’s nationally acclaimed “Welfare 2 Career” model, as well as their “Prison 2 Career”, and “School 2 Career” programs. These programs have helped hundreds of families transform a life of dependence into self-dependence. Ron envisioned adapting the principles of these programs to become community-based and resident-directed.
For a few years colleagues supported Ron exploring launching this vision through an urban business association and through a network of churches. These experiences led to developing a strategy that focused on a high needs Grand Rapids, Michigan urban neighborhood that had an under-performing elementary school. This created access to high needs families, as well as residents who were willing to re-engage to create a vision of hope after having many disappointing improvement experiences. During this time, Ron also recruited many (now over 70), non-profit and private organizations to become Endorsing Partners, publicly committing to adapt their service delivery to the residents’ improvement strategy.
What was needed to formally launch Seeds was a neighborhood place to operate from, a system to operate within, and funding to cover the cost of operations. A local neighborhood association graciously offered to share space for a few years until Seeds could help with rent. Help Build Community provided the prosperity improvement system and coaching, impact team structure and process, and a self-sustainability strategy. Through multiple departments, Grand Valley State University provided critical resources. Ron Jimmerson and others agreed to provide in-kind leadership. A benefactor committed to covering operating expenses.
In 2011, Seeds launched formal operations in the neighborhood. A group of residents formed Seeds’ interim Governance Board to guide the initiative’s development. Soon afterward the W.K. Kellogg Foundation initiated discussions with Seeds. The Foundation had already searched the market to locate a resident-governed model, but could not find any. A year later, the Foundation committed to help fund Seeds to build a replicable model for residents to serve as the formal governance board for Seeds. The residents’ Host Neighbor Leadership Council now directs the Seeds strategy. A sub-group of these residents serve as the majority of the Seeds corporate board and report to the non-formal Leadership Council.
In 2014, Seeds moved to our own offices. A year ago, we acquired the adjoining space, remodeled it, and in February 2016, launched the Seeds Solution Center, where planning gets done and problems get solved. Multiple Impact Teams led by residents meet regularly. Staff from about thirty-five community organizations participate regularly on these teams in a collaborative strategy to improve resident prosperity and Endorsing Partners’ measurable impact.
What do we do?
Seeds has emerged as a solution to neighborhood community issues surrounding multi-generational dependency that has continuously gone unaddressed. The existing “top-down” strategies have deepened recipient’s reliance on resources to date, rather than providing opportunities for them to become self-sustaining. Our foundation principle is that those who live in the community must direct their own improvement strategy. This is why we work with our neighbors and community members to improve the neighborhood we serve.
>>>Mission
At Seeds of Promise our mission is to transform the neighborhood by promoting collaboration and community stakeholder partnerships; applying sustainable development best practices; building local resident leadership and trust; deep listening to community voices; meeting the needs and wants expressed by the neighborhood.
>>>Vision
The vision that we have for our target neighborhood is a sustainable community that fully meets the needs of its current and future stakeholders measured by a high quality of life, abundant servant leadership, and equal education opportunity. Its compassionate leaders will continuously seek to create a balance in the community's economic vitality, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
Where are we located?
The Seeds of Promise Community sits in the Southeast area of Grand Rapids. The original Seeds pilot neighborhood boundaries included Hall Street, Eastern Avenue, Burton Street, and Jefferson Avenue. In 2014, Seeds received a grant from the City of Grand Rapids for the expansion of services beyond the pilot neighborhood. Our boundaries are now Wealthy Street, Eastern Avenue, Burton Street, and Buchanan Avenue. The Seeds Community now has an approximate population of 17,000 residents!
What are impact teams?
Impact teams are self-organized neighborhood teams comprised of Host Neighbors and Endorsing Partners that address neighborhood issues and concerns.
>>>Host Neighbor Community Leadership Council
Training Host Neighbors in planning and directing community improvement strategies to make the decisions of the Seeds of Promise initiative.
>>>Health & Wellness
Developing a place-based, proactive community health, wellness, and nutrition program that provides care and resources to community residents and minimizes the use of local hospitals and urgent care facilities.
>>>Safe Community
Aims to increase activities in the neighborhood that contribute to the overall safety and wellness of the community.
>>>Ministerial
Resurrecting the evangelism ministries throughout the community, removing the barriers of denominations, gender, race/culture, and age.
>>>Housing
Maximizes the community’s owner occupied housing and contributes to the community’s continuous neighborhood improvement. There are three housing programs available.
>>>Job Creation
Increases employment of local residents.
>>>Entrepreneur
Empowers the development of healthy, profitable, and community-focused businesses with local ownership by the community.
>>>Environmental
With the help of WMEAC, we are attempting to re-launch the Environmental team
>>>Educational
The goal is to strengthen and encourage family support systems, while improving student and family learning capabilities as well as educational attainment levels.
