Amazing Idea in Our Community

By David Abrams, State Coordinator (North FL) on 06/03/2011 @ 12:20 PM

Tags: North

Earlier this week, Dave Lawrence produced an Op-Ed requesting the Governor and state leadership to restore state Pre-K funding as a result of the Governor's Vetoes. The Op-ed was first posted in the Gainesville Sun on Wednesday morning and by the end of the week was found in a number of newspapers throughout the state.

First thing Wednesday morning I went ahead and sent a link of the article to the entire CMF- Gainesville chapter. I then received several responses from intrigued supporters. However, Ken Van Nortwick with the Reichert House of Gainesville, left me intrigued following a phone call in which he discussed a business plan that aligns perfectly with the Movement's idea of investing in children early on programs like VPK & Mentoring will pay huge dividends later.

The Reichert House (founded by Gainesville Police Chief Tony Jones, Tony Baxter, & Community Activist Rosa Williams) has provided Gainesville's youth with the opportunity and support to build positive lives in order to become contributing members of society. However, Ken stated that "after 23 years of improving the character and education of its youth, The Reichert House still faces the persistent problem of incarceration and unemployment among their children.

A youth that goes to prison costs our community about $2.9 million over his lifetime." Ken then went ahead and mentioned "the Reichert House can take a ten-year old youth and mentor him through high school graduation ( an eight-year program for less than $10,000). With employment in his future that youth can make almost $1 million over his lifetime and become a tax-paying, not tax-costing citizen."

So here is the plan- Michael Manfredi, owner of Sweet Dreams Ice Cream of Gainesville, has offered Reichert House the opportunity to fulfill its mission of finding employment for our youth. He has agreed to set up, supply, administer and manage a homemade ice cream shop owned by Reichert House. Young men working at the new Sweet Dreams at Reichert House ice cream shop will receive job skills, training and mentoring opportunities.

Manfredi has lived in Gainesville, Florida since 1992. In 2004, he became a business owner, opening Sweet Dreams of Gainesville, located at 3437 W. University Ave., with his wife, Lisa Manfredi, where they make and serve premium homemade ice cream and a variety of desserts. Combining the mission of Reichert House and Manfredi's vision will create not only job opportunities for young men in the program, but also spread Sweet Dreams of Gainesville’s premium homemade ice cream across Gainesville to Sweet Dreams at Reichert House.

I must say amazing ideas come up in our community everyday! I wish the best of luck to Ken Van Nortwick, Michael Manfredi, Tony Jones & The Reichert House.

If you are interested in helping with this mission- please email me at david.abrams@childrensmovementofflorida.org. I can then link you up with Ken Van Nortwick.