>> Lee Herrin
Fernwood NRG has hit a number of milestones in the past few years: the organization turned 35 in 2014, FernFest turned 20 in 2015, and both the Village Vibe and the Cornerstone building (in neighbourhood hands) turned 10, also in 2015. And just this past month, the Cornerstone Café hit the 10 year mark—we opened just after Remembrance Day in 2006.
Back then, we were busy putting the Cornerstone building back together. We were focused on fitting out the upstairs apartments for affordable family housing, and we were also looking for tenants for the ground floor. At the Board table, we debated the merits of opening our own business versus just leasing the space to the highest bidder.
In those days, “social enterprise” was an unconventional strategy for non-profit organizations, and was seen as adventurous, even risky. Some folks were doing it, but there were few examples of profitable enterprises that contributed to the broader organizational mission. We weighed the pros and cons, and ultimately decided that we needed not just rent, but also income, in order to make the building purchase work financially. And, we knew that the neighbourhood needed a gathering place. We settled on a café as a business that we could run and that would succeed.
I remember asking a friend who didn’t know I was involved what she thought of a café opening in Fernwood that would be operated by a non-profit. Her response was telling: “What, will I have to make my own coffee?” I explained that it would be a neighbourhood business like any other, just that the profits would flow into an organization that would invest them in programs and services for the neighbourhood. She seemed skeptical.
Ten years later, social enterprise is more widely accepted, and Fernwood is seen as a successful pioneer. We moved the café into a separate company in 2012 (to comply with tax regulations), and added the hair salon, Studio 1313, in 2013. Fernwood residents who patronize our businesses not only get a great coffee or a fantastic haircut, but also support the provision of childcare, affordable housing, and family programs in Fernwood just as surely as if they had made a charitable donation.
If it weren’t for our social enterprises, we wouldn’t be nearly as successful an organization as we are. So, a big thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey for the past 10 years. We’ll see you soon for an Americano!
