For our December spotlight, we spoke with Julee Rachels, CEO and Founder ofHeartisans Marketplace，位于德克萨斯州朗维尤（Longview）的501（c）（3）非营利组织。
Heartisans通过其工作准备计划为服务不足的妇女提供了工作准备培训和基本技能，该计划由市场和捐赠的销售资助。自2014年开业以来，超过100名女性已成功从该计划毕业，Rachels很高兴成为“一小部分”。
Can you tell me a little bit about what you do?
我们有一个与朗维尤经济合作Development Corporation and are a prep and test site for the ACT WorkKeys and essential skills. This software provides the opportunity for women in our program to be better employees (teamwork, productivity, time management, employer expectations, and business and interpersonal communications). After the ACT WorkKeys prep and testing, program participants receive a National Career Readiness Certificate and are ready to enter the community workforce. Many of our graduates attend higher education as well.
我们还提供社区联系，以解决医疗，牙科，愿景和法律问题。已解决的法律问题，急需的眼镜，新的微笑的信心，适合工作场所的衣服以及社区中强大的女性网络只是从Heartisans工作准备计划中毕业的一些好处。
在整个社区中，妇女被转介给我们，包括其他非营利组织，教堂，法律制度，家庭和朋友。许多人生活在其他非营利组织中，通过他们完成计划（例如成瘾，家庭暴力等），并且在完成计划后，他们被称为我们的第一步。尽管我们的计划具有挑战性，但它正在改变生活。我们与他们同行，因为他们发现了一个与他们及其家人提供的兴趣和能力相匹配的职业。
With the addition of our Phase II Aftercare Program, we are building small homes on our property that will provide housing for one to two years as they enter the workforce and higher education and have the opportunity to implement what they have learned in Phase I, the Job Readiness Program. This will provide them with the independence they desire in a community with the continued support and accountability they need, along with life skill classes and continued counseling.
How do you fund the program?
Sales of products through our retail store provides about two-thirds of our needed funding with community donations providing the rest. A year ago, we purchased and renovated the property where we are now. This new location provides the space needed for our job readiness and aftercare programs, retail store, manufacturing studios, and future housing.
Heartisans is operated by 160+ weekly volunteers from the community and five employees. The first three years, we were 100% volunteer-based, hiring our program director in the fourth year, a volunteer coordinator in the fifth year, and an operations manager and sewing/quilting studio lead in the sixth year. Now, in the beginning of our eighth year, we just hired our fifth employee, our assistant program director who will transition into our aftercare director.
We produce many of the products we sell in our retail store through our volunteer labor. Manufacturing studios include sewing/quilting, embroidery/monogramming, vinyl personalization, letterpress printing, handwork, and our manufacturing kitchen where we produce our natural health and beauty products, food and beverage mixes, ready-to-eat snacks, candles, and natural home cleaning products. We also source products from companies through the Dallas market to provide a large variety of gift offerings. We also have an online store and offer corporate gift boxes that we ship throughout the United States that include a lot of the products we make.
是什么让您决定开设Heartisans Marketplace？
In the summer of 2013, a friend invited me to volunteer through a nonprofit in our community in a low-income apartment complex. That summer, for 12 weeks, I worked with 21 women providing healthy cooking classes, exercise, and Bible study, just kind of getting to know them. Many of these women expressed a desire to move out of these apartments, and my question wasWhy are you here?What I discovered was they needed more education, jobs, and many were stuck in generational poverty.
同时，我们正在教会的妇女调查她们想参加什么样的活动以及她们的需求。手工艺品排名最高！Heartisans成为如何融合这两组妇女的模型 - 一个想搬进有意义的工作的群体，这些工作将为她们和他们的家人提供谋生，以及一群喜欢创建可以出售的物品以资助通往道路的群体独立。
在获得了我们的501（c）（3）名称并找到我们的第一个地点之后，我们与Longview Economic Development Corporation（LEDCO）合作，促进ACT Workkeys Prep和测试，这将为我们的计划参与者提供全国职业准备证书，该证书，该证书，该证书，这些证书我们地区的许多公司都需要。
What’s your favorite part of running your own nonprofit?
哦，天哪 - 所有人，可能是人民，看到该计划中的女人实现了自己的梦想。我们认识社区中有这么多人自愿与我们一起志愿服务。我们是基于信仰的，基于网络的。这只是一个志愿者的绝妙地方。
看到了women that come into the program, where they start, and two months later where they end up is really amazing to see. Some women when they start won’t even look you in the eye, and they lack confidence in their ability to do anything. Then in a few short weeks, they just blossom and realize they reallycanachieve their dreams because they were created by a God who loves them and their life has purpose. They work so hard, and they can have a different life because of it. It’s really amazing to be a small part of that. It’s life-changing for them and for us as volunteers as well.
What are some of the biggest challenges of running a nonprofit?
哦，可能是资金。除了我们的销售和社区捐款外，我们确实正在研究我们尚未利用的基金会赠款，以便我们能够建立所需的现场住房。我们刚刚开始探索实现这一目标的基础机会。
我们刚刚获得了德克萨斯州律师基金会的第一笔赠款，该基金会为助理计划主管提供了所需的资金。这将使我们能够每两个半月从六个半女性增加计划课程规模，并提供更多所需的后期护理课程，包括生活技能和持续咨询。迄今为止，我们有100多名课程毕业生，因为他们开始职业并参加高等教育，我们仍然令人鼓舞。
How does Patriot’s Full-Service Payroll help you run your nonprofit?
Well, like I said, for three years we were 100% volunteer-driven, and our Advisory Board approved our first hire, a full-time program director. I was like,Oh my gosh!I do not know what to do about all the paperwork and dealing with all the payroll requirements. I needed something to make sure I was doing everything right.
我听说电台上的爱国者工资，他们会照顾一切。我只是投入了我们的员工的信息，他们照顾了其余的信息。这就是吸引我的原因，在广告中听到它。而且，仅仅拥有员工和了解所有文书工作的便利性是正确的，我也无需弄清楚。
随着我们继续增加员工，这使得所有事情都做得正确变得越来越容易。那带来了安心。
When it comes to your organization, what are you most proud of?
哦，天哪，我认为的社区。回顾我们从哪里开始和现在的位置。作为一个基于信仰的组织，我们看到了上帝是如何完成一切的，从我们的位置到每个愿意分享他们的礼物和才华的志愿者，我们的每一个需求都得到了满足。成为其中的一部分非常令人兴奋。
We know what our next steps need to be as we see the needs of the women we serve, but we don’t take that step until someone walks in with that gift and we go,哦！现在可以做到。We have great retention with our volunteers, and minister to them just like with the women in the program. There are very few places where you can have 160 women with no drama. We focus on the mission; so, we don’t have the drama. Everyone just does the part they’ve been gifted to do. It’s a wonderful thing to see and be a part of.
We have such an amazing community as well, and the community has really supported Heartisans’ mission.
I’ve heard from referring nonprofits that the women in their programs can’t wait to come to Heartisans. I’ve seen what coming to Heartisans does for women—their confidence, independence, and excitement for the future.
What words of advice do you have for someone hoping to start their own nonprofit?
Well, I would get some like-minded friends together and share your vision. Having people come together around a common vision gives it life and really helps it come together.
I had a legal background; so, I was able to do the paperwork for 501(c)(3), but it took me several months to complete. In filling out that paperwork, I had to have two other officers; so, I invited two friends over for lunch and shared the vision I had and asked them to join me. I was fortunate they wanted to be involved.
So, maybe find people who have the knowledge in the different areas of the nonprofit you’re going to run into and ask for their input. Form a network of people from your community who will help.
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