FTC Dev. Plan 7_9_14-1finaldraft

Risa Wolfe Laughing Wolfe LLC Design|Strategy|Facilitation

Development Plan

For The Children Inc.

For The Children Inc. Development Plan 2

Risa Wolfe Laughing Wolfe LLC Design|Strategy|Facillitation

Report Summary For The Children Inc. (FTC) has a the opportunity to build sustainability into the heart of it’s community

and neighborhood. There is community will, good capital funding and land. With creative strategies

FTC can use it’s resources to build a one of kind program of diverse micro businesses and services.

Community Vision This development plan was commissioned by FTC and is a reflection of the vision of the staff and

community stakeholders of FTC.

Applying the principle of “stacking functions”, each part of the land development is used to create

educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. The central question for each element of the project is,

“how can this element serve multiple purposes?” In this way the goal is to do more with less, and move

forward multiple goals at once and in a timely manner.

!

Revenue

Education Services

!

After School Care

Community

Camps

Grants

Fees

Science

Math

Critical Problem Solving

Coding

Business

Cafe

Farmer’s Market Membership

Event rental

Community Meals

Commercial Kitchen

Design

Family Services

Outdoor Theater

Museum

Fresh Food

Biodynamic Farm

Workshops



A 6-Year Timeline Breaking out the larger project into phases allows time for fundraising, and causes less disruption to the

functioning of the program. The overall goals may change order on the timeline, but should serve as

guideline for the long-term plan. Capital improvements include:

• 10,500sf of classroom/studio space, serving 300 children • 5,000sf flex space, for classes, events, workshops etc. • 2,000sf commercial kitchen, capable of feeding 200 people • 3,000sf of administrative, storage, and conference space • 2+acres of bio-intensive food production, with aquaponics and green house • Children’s garden • Outdoor theater and play field • Courtyard and outdoor oven • Spray/ water park • Historic restoration of Osborne school • Café • Produce market

Next Steps

First year goals (Phase 1) are detailed at the end of this report. Immediate next steps over the next 3

months should include:

o Summer Program Prototypes § Children’s garden § Revitalize garden beds § Tree research and planting § Worm bin class § Code Camp

o Meet with John Szerdi and any others that can get the building process started. o Build project team- find the people who will hold accountability and move the project

forward. § Architects § Farm consultant/ permaculture teacher § Project management § Community outreach § Fundraising

o Identify funding § Grant writing, Indiegogo campaign?

Challenges The primary barrier that FTC faces is limited capacity. Parents are strapped for time and cash, and FTC

is short staffed. The gap between start up and revenue generation will be tricky. Finding

knowledgeable, committed and passionate leaders is essential. Careful investing in this leadership will

pay off in the long run.



Project Goals - Summary

Aligning development with the needs and vision of this community is at the heart of this report. This

report is intended to act as a written reflection of the information gathered over the course of my time

spent there.

This project plan is a compilation 2 design sessions held with community and staff, input board members,

the Executive Director and outside stakeholders.

The plan uses the opportunity of site development to suggest a pathway towards social enterprise, as a

strategy for growing the organization.

In compliance with the current terms of the lease, a phased and adaptive approach over 6 years, to

revitalize the site, build organizational capacity, and diversify income is outlined.



Needs Assessment - Current State The current FTC site consists of an under developed 4.6 acres with a 3,800sf historic building, that it

leases from the city of Lake Worth, FL. Under current lease terms, FTC is responsible for developing and

executing a site plan for capital improvements. The improvements are to include, but are not limited to:

buildings to house FTC educational programs, playfields, parking, landscaping, and historic restoration

of the Osborne School. All amenities are to be available to the community at affordable fees.

Part of the program is run from the Osborne School site, with additional space being rented from other

facilities. The program is dependent on grant funding, fees, and donations. This mix of income and

expenses has proved unstable for the program, with funding for various programs being cut year by

year and access to external sites being complex and difficult to secure.

Challenges

Primary challenges for FTC are common to many non-profit organizations.

• Bureaucratic grant funding creates extra work and unstable finances. • Funding constraints that limit staffing and leadership opportunities • Limited resources in the community • Finding appropriate and consistent space • Operational complication because of multiple sites

Building a Social Enterprise Organization

Social enterprise organizations use business strategy to build strong revenue streams, in service of

community and ecological needs. FTC is currently caught in a common non-profit trap. In order to

maintain funding, a tremendous amount of organizational energy goes towards grant requirements.

Those grants are precarious year to year, leaving the organization unstable, constantly “chasing”

funding, and struggling to meet overly bureaucratic compliance measures.

FTC has a unique opportunity to use its capital improvement budget, and land access to:

1. Ease the pressure from finding fickle funding year by year. 2. Put all programs activities on to one site, eliminating the need for renting additional sites, 3. Create educational opportunities for children to gain hands on experience with production to

delivery of various micro-enterprise operations. 4. Provide a safe and engaged community environment for families.



Project Proposal

In the Words of the Children, Parents and Staff

Through design thinking activates staff and parents were invited to dream and design their perfect mix

of services and opportunities in their community. The ideas were plentiful, creative, and surprisingly

consistent. There is high energy from all sides to create something strong and lasting for the community

and to open new opportunities for the children.

Concepts were clear reflections of the community needs and interests. Asked during the sessions to

pick their top ideas, the lists generated included the following:

Kid’s List • Water park • Free good meals • Dance classes • Hair and nail spa • Sports center • Restaurant • “Mini-mall” to sell clothes • Kid’s lounge • Garden • Movie Theater • More clubs (Career clubs) • Pool • Chocolate fountain!

Adult’s List • Gardens • Orchard, mangos, avocados • Vermi- composting • Aquaponics • Water fountain • Fresh Market, Produce stand • Healing center • Learning classrooms • Library • Hair store/spa/ natural living products • Theater/ outdoor theater/ amphitheater • Green house • Event space/ pavilion, weddings, parties etc. • Multi purpose space / meetings/ classes/events/ dance/ parties/ Zumba/ youth night • Bigger playground • Parent/ student lounge/ coffee shop • Energy efficient buildings with solar to keep costs down • Big metal building • Kitchen and cooking club



Development Based on Community Vision

The development plan outlined here includes opportunities to encompass most of the top ideas.

Applying the principle of “stacking functions”, each part of the land development is used to create

educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. The central question for each element of the project is,

“how can this element serve multiple purposes?” In this way the goal is to do more with less, and move

forward multiple goals at once and in a timely manner.

Bio-intensive food production is the first and a core focus of this plan. One of the greatest assets that FTC

has at its disposal is an undeveloped 4.6 acres of land. An inexpensive and quick ways to make land a

revenue source is to grow food on it. The initial start up costs for putting 2+ acres of land into production

can be as low as $10,000 - $30,000, depending on equipment and water needs. That investment can

be returned through the sale of produce generating potential revenues of $100,000 with 2 years of full

production. (Fortier, 2014)

Potential Revenue Streams • Providing fresh food to students • Selling of fresh produce • Selling nursery stock • Processing and selling value-added products • Providing gardening/permaculture classes • Selling fresh fish • Selling compost • Renting space for events

Potential Educational Opportunities • Math and science required to successfully design and maintain a healthy system • STEM education • Hands on agricultural experience • Observation and critical thinking skills • Entrepreneurial skills on a variety of levels ranging from:

o Production o Operations o Marketing o Customer service o Accounting o Management

Being partners in FTC businesses gives kids real life experience in a low risk environment. This allows the

children build the skills and confidence to take off site and into work and college.

Growing and sharing food is a community activity. Gardens invite people to work, and break bread side

by side. Over time this creates a strengthening of ties, and a web of support and connection.



FTC core goals include healthy meals for children, diversifying revenue, and building community. Food

production therefore is a good way to meet multiple goals

The second focus of is to build approximately 14,000sf of deep green multi purpose spaces and

commercial kitchen. This amount of space provides enough space to house all of FTC’s services, for up

to 300 students at a time. Putting all the programs on one site will reduce costs for rent, simplify

operations, and provide a place to host fund raising events.

The buildings themselves need to be generators of revenue. Beyond facility needs, these spaces will be

designed to provide multiple functions. Providing space for events, conferences, workshops, evening

classes, art events and community gathering will be the second job of the buildings. The additional

revenue will help to strengthen the program, and provide further opportunities for students to gain

valuable job experience.

Deep green construction insures cost saving over time. High quality construction and energy saving

technology ensure that costs are brought down for maintenance and utilities. “Out of the box” design

can create public buzz and support for FTC as an organization creating game changing solutions in its

community.

Third this plan focuses on creating community spaces. The inclusion of a café, produce market,

courtyard spaces, outdoor theater, water park, and museum are all aimed at providing spaces for

children, families and community to gather together. A consistent theme in all the conversations was

the value of community and having safe places to relax and play together.

FTC has an opportunity to serve both the children and surrounding community by providing a beautiful

and bountiful place in the heart of the neighborhood.

Exploring a co-op or membership model is an option to help maintain the premises and ensure respectful use by members, while providing affordable access.



What We Create, We Care For

!

Entreprenurial &

Educational

Flex Space Events

Classes Biointensive

Farm & Orchard

Aquaponics

Children's Garden

Commerical Kitchen

Deep Green Construction

Village

Shared Meals

Park

Communtiy Coffee House

Outdoor Theater

Welcoming

Famer's Market



Project Elements

2 Acres of Food production

• Mixed orchard • Food forest • Bio-intensive vegetable farm • Aquaponics and green

house Provides potential production of 64,000 lbs. of food for school lunches, café, and fresh produce market. Micro enterprise opportunities: Nursery, Market veggies, food processing, gardening classes, honey production. !

6000 SF Flex Space with 2,000sf Commercial Kitchen

• 2,000sf kitchen feeds up to 200 people • 5,000sf flex space hosts events of 200 +

people • Doubles as theater • Class space for 142 students • 1,000sf for storage, bathrooms, offices

Provides revenue through: Event rental, summer camp, production of food for program lunches and market, cooking classes, workshops, hosting theater events and fundraising events. !

Community Space

• Café • Market • Court yard / cob oven • Outdoor theater • Water park

Provides community gathering space, social enterprise and revenue streams, and opportunities for students to learn about business and earn income !

Deep Green Buildings

• 10,500sf of class, studio, and lab space serving up to 300 children

• 3,000sf of administrative, conference and auxiliary space

• Simple, high quality buildings, connected to the outdoors, welcoming and creating a sense of “village.”

• Use of solar, water catchment, airflow and shading to reduce utility costs.

Provides space for all FTC programs to be run on site, cutting rent costs. Deep green buildings provide high quality construction and cost savings over time. Show case project will attract media and funding.

Restoration of Historic Osborne School

• Museum • Conference

space Provides rooted connection to the neighborhood’s history, and cultural pride. Opportunity for students to create, curate and provide media content for historical exhibit. !



The 6-year development plan includes the addition of 10,500sf of classroom space (5,000sf of which can

be used as a large event space), 2,000sf commercial kitchen, 2+ acres of bio-intensive food production,

conference and office space, park and community space, children’s garden, café and produce

market, and historic restoration of Osborne School.

Project Time Line - 6 Years

The following time line represents a general pathway over a 6-year period of time. It includes an annual

assessment of the project, to make sure progress is on track and in alignment with actual needs. It also

assumes and expects that the focus or direction of the project may shift as it moves forward, as some

elements may develop faster (or slower) than expected or needs may change.

The first year of the project (Phase 1) is detailed in actionable projects following the 6-year timeline. The

success and learning in this first phase will impact the flow for the rest of the project.

• Phase 1 2014-2015

o Program prototypes § Garden § Coding

o Build project team o Building plans/permits o Bio-intensive start up

§ Design § Tools § Budget § Programs

o Identify funding § Grant writing § Indiegogo campaign?

o Community engagement

• Phase 2 2015- 2017

o Break ground on Flex building o Landscape for courtyard o Expand bio-intensive gardens and orchards o Funding for building 2 building o Program assessment and adjustment o Assessment for aquaponics/ greenhouses

• Phase 3 2017- 2018

o Continue expansion of bio-intensive systems o Add aquaponics o Greenhouse o Break ground building 2



o Farmer’s market o Café start up o Assess needs o Funding for build out of building 3 and café and market space.

• Phase 4 2018- 2019

o Break ground on final building projects o Funding for historic restoration of Osborne School o Funding for water feature

• Phase 5 2020-2021

o Restoration of Osborne School o Water park build out

!Period!Highlight: 1 Plan Actual %!Complete Actual0(beyond0plan) %!Complete0(beyond0plan)

PLAN PLAN ACTUAL ACTUAL TASK PERCENT 7/1/14 Phase!1 phase!2 Phase!3 Phase4 Phase!5ACTIVITY START DURATION START DURATION LEAD COMPLETE Months 7/1/15 7/1/16 7/1/17 7/1/18 7/1/19 7/1/20

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

!!!!!!!PHASE!!1 1 13 1 0%program!prototypes 1 3 1 Risa 100%

Build!Project!team 1 4 0%

Identify!funding 1 6 0%

Grant!writing 6 4 0%

Garden!design 1 6 0%

Building!plans/permits 1 13 0%

Community!outreach 1 13 0%!!!!!!PHASE!2 14 12 0%build!flex!building 14 9 0%

Program!assesment!and!adjustment 14 2 0%

Landscape!for!courtyard 23 3 0%

Expand!bioXIntensive!systems 14 24 0%

!!!!Assessment!for!aquaponics 23 10 0%

!!!!Assessment!for!greenhouse 23 10 0%

Funding!for!building!2 14 24 0%!!!!!!!!!PHASE!3 0%Assessment!and!adjustment 37 2 0%

Aquaponics 37 6 0%

Green!house 37 6 0%

building!2!construction 37 9 0%

Farmer's!market 37 5 0%

Café!start!up 37 6 0%

Funding!final!construction 37 12 0%

!!!!!café 0%

!!!!market!space 0%

!!!!building!3 0%!!!!!!!PHASE!4 0%Final!construction!phase 50 12 0%

Funding!for!historic!restoration 50 12 0%funding!for!Water!park 50 12 0%!!!!!!!PHASE!5! 0%Restoration!of!Osborn!school 62 12 0%

Water!park!construction 62 6 0%

FTC*Timeline*Proposal



Next Steps: Phase 1 Detailed

Summer Prototyping of Programs

Prototyping programs this summer will give FTC a good indication of programs to pursue through out the

year, and what additional resources will be needed.

Starting with a garden program and a coding camp can get the ball rolling quickly and with visible

results.

Summer Garden Camp

Building a children’s garden with vine teepee, gourd

tunnel and garden art is a fun way to get younger kids

involved. It also expands the playground, and creates

a visual impact.

Research and planning for revitalizing of current

garden beds, and subsequently, planting the first trees is a great project for older kids. Working

together to decide which trees and plants they want to plant, kids will start to revitalize the

current garden and deepen their knowledge through research and inquiry. Where do we get

compost? What trees can we plant? What do they need? How long before we get fruit?

Worm bin class can get the compost program running, using food waste from the program to

feed the garden. Kids can build the bins and make sure the worms are healthy and fed.

Summer Coding Camp

This opportunity can give the kids access to computer coding skills, and open the doorway to

web design and social media marketing. Tech savvy students can design multi media marketing

strategies for food-based businesses.

Short film for fundraising

Putting together a team of students to create a short fundraising film for an Indiegogo

campaign will put them in the driver’s seat of successful fundraising for their program.



Build Project Team

The following roles will be necessary to keep the project moving. One person may be responsible for

more than one role, but accountability for these tasks must be established.

Project Lead - Oversight of the development plan as a big picture. Keep connection with each

of the leads to ensure that each component is moving forward, and in sync with the others.

Building lead - Oversight of capital improvements. Work with architects, builders, and city to

make sure the building process moves smoothly, and on budget.

Farm lead - Design and manage bio-intensive food production. Provide education to students

Grant writing/ fundraising - Identify funding sources, organizes campaigns, and writes grants.

Education lead - Work with all other leads to organize educational opportunities and create

curriculum. Continue to bring in programs, and plan for next steps where students are involved.

Work directly with students.

Community outreach - Work with parents and community members. Organize community

meals, communicate project status, and orchestrate community volunteers and work parties.

Building Plans and Permits In the first year FTC should be able to secure plans and permits for the

capital improvements. Creating schematic designs and preliminary

budgets will inform fundraising needs. The plans should be broken into

phases, with the building of the flex space and commercial kitchen being

the first priority.

Bio-Intensive Start UP Work with farm designer to create a start up budget to include:

• Soil amendment • Water system • Removal of invasive plants • Tools and basic equipment • Library • Consulting/ educational services • Seeds • Hoop houses.

This groundwork will provide information needed for a decision on how much and how quickly land can

be put into cultivation.



Budget Based on information from building meetings and farm design, take a look at costs, project priorities,

and create a budget.

Identify Funding /Fundraise Fill gaps with fundraisers and grant writing.

Community Engagement Communicate project progress, plan volunteer events and

coordinate community meals.

Conclusion The scope of this plan is ambitious. It is focused on a strategy of layering resources to meet multiple goals. While complex systems such as this can seem daunting, taken in small steps and with dedicated leadership, everything in the outlined plan is possible. The FTC value of putting children first, and seeing the child as part of a whole system, is a tremendous asset. Reginale Durandisse’s commitment and vision as Executive Director brings power and possibility to any development plan. Community commitment and passion will drive success. Surrounded by a strong team, this organization can grow to be financially stable, and provide children and their families with incredible resources.



Resources and Projects Projects Hood River Middle School- Permaculture program Michael Becker http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/01/less-than-net-zero-hood-river-middle.html?s=image_gallery Ron Finley- Gangster Gardening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzZzZ_qpZ4w Annie’s Home Grown http://www.annies.com/school-gardens Local Resources Roarbecks https://www.rorabecks.com/about-us.html Tree Hugger Farms http://treehuggerorganicfarms.com/ Palm Beach Agricultural Extension Program http://www.pbcgov.com/coextension/

Works Cited

Fortier, J.-M. (2014). The Market Gardener. Canada: New Society Publishers.

Documents

FTC Dev. Plan 7_9_14-1finaldraft