What's Update
Published on December 7, 2022 by Marcos Descalzi
Hi folks!
As a humble part of the Open Collective, we wanted to take the opportunity to give a "What's Update" before the end of the year. So, without further ado, to answer some questions:
1. What did you accomplish during 2022? How did you use money?
Our main goal was incorporating ourselves and doing research, which, with Open Collective's help, we have succeeded in doing! We're deeply grateful for the help, as it will give us a tremendous headstart heading into 2023.
So far, we've raised $1,000, which will be reflected in our account in the coming days. We're in the process of using this money to buy a website domain, as well as gain access to grant application resources. We will be using this money soon for food and other event paraphernalia, such as a table and banner, for when we start our community outreach operations in Hempstead , New York in 2023!
2. What challenges did you face during 2022? What did your Collective learn? How did you change or grow?
Our two staff members, Ashley Cham and Marcos Descalzi, properly forged our relationship together and defined our organizations under the umbrella of Soul Descendants. We learned how to unite our mission statements into a cohesive model, as well as a ton on fundraising, the legality of a 501(c)3, ideas for organizing, event planning ideas, and other foundational business attributes like 5-year plans. We've grown a ton, but the ability to incorporate as a 501(c)3 and the money we've already raised, as well as the extremely positive reception we've gotten from our peers, has given us the confidence we need to move forward.
3. What are your plans for 2023? Anything exciting coming up?
I'm so glad you asked! We're going to pioneer our first community building events, such as Offers and Needs Markets, spiritual community building exercises, and Quality of Life scoring meetings, wherein we ask community members genuinely, how would they rate the quality of life in this neighborhood. We'll be breaking ground and meeting with local activists in Hempstead in order to do this. We'll be applying in earnest to our first grants with the goal of hiring ourselves, for 55k each minimum, as well as hopefully hiring our first proper organizer! I'm deeply, deeply excited for the change we'll already be making next year, and we're truly, truly grateful to the Open Collective for giving us this momentum heading into the new year.
As a humble part of the Open Collective, we wanted to take the opportunity to give a "What's Update" before the end of the year. So, without further ado, to answer some questions:
1. What did you accomplish during 2022? How did you use money?
Our main goal was incorporating ourselves and doing research, which, with Open Collective's help, we have succeeded in doing! We're deeply grateful for the help, as it will give us a tremendous headstart heading into 2023.
So far, we've raised $1,000, which will be reflected in our account in the coming days. We're in the process of using this money to buy a website domain, as well as gain access to grant application resources. We will be using this money soon for food and other event paraphernalia, such as a table and banner, for when we start our community outreach operations in Hempstead , New York in 2023!
2. What challenges did you face during 2022? What did your Collective learn? How did you change or grow?
Our two staff members, Ashley Cham and Marcos Descalzi, properly forged our relationship together and defined our organizations under the umbrella of Soul Descendants. We learned how to unite our mission statements into a cohesive model, as well as a ton on fundraising, the legality of a 501(c)3, ideas for organizing, event planning ideas, and other foundational business attributes like 5-year plans. We've grown a ton, but the ability to incorporate as a 501(c)3 and the money we've already raised, as well as the extremely positive reception we've gotten from our peers, has given us the confidence we need to move forward.
3. What are your plans for 2023? Anything exciting coming up?
I'm so glad you asked! We're going to pioneer our first community building events, such as Offers and Needs Markets, spiritual community building exercises, and Quality of Life scoring meetings, wherein we ask community members genuinely, how would they rate the quality of life in this neighborhood. We'll be breaking ground and meeting with local activists in Hempstead in order to do this. We'll be applying in earnest to our first grants with the goal of hiring ourselves, for 55k each minimum, as well as hopefully hiring our first proper organizer! I'm deeply, deeply excited for the change we'll already be making next year, and we're truly, truly grateful to the Open Collective for giving us this momentum heading into the new year.