Giving Back
Growing up my dad would tell me stories of what life was like for him in Nicaragua. He would tell me how he would go fishing in the river right in the backyard with just a bottle and some rice. They had countless of animals; chickens, dogs, cows and baby tigers… yes, I said baby tigers. Sometimes these stories feel like something out of a fiction book but in reality this was his life.
One part of his life that has always stuck with me was when they started a small organization called, “Club Santa Lucia.” My Grandpa along with a few others from the community rented out a space to help people in the community; it helped feed families, and provided a shelter for people in need. My family was not “well off” by any means, they themselves were struggling to get by but it did not stop them from giving, even in the little they had, they gave.
As long as I can remember my dad has always lived a life of giving. If a friend, family or stranger is in need my dad is always there to help. As Aesthetic Supply grows, I don’t want to move forward without giving back to people who are in need. There are millions of people that fight each day to get enough water or food for the day. There are people struggling with depression, anxiety or drug addictions. Our world is filled with broken homes or the reality of no home at all. I know I may not be able to help everyone but I can help somebody and I surely can’t do it alone.
I recently designed a print called, “Fail Forward,” the idea behind this design is to encourage people to press forward from all the failure they may have experienced. all fail at some point or another but it’s important to learn from these failures, get back up and try again. Café Momentum “is a restaurant training platform that provides post-release paid internships for juvenile offenders through which they will receive intensive culinary, job, and life-skill training as well as continued mentoring and support to foster successful re-entry into the community.” I LOVE their passion and heart to help young people break the cycle of violence or crimes they have committed. By training them in the restaurant, working with established chefs and teaching them valuable life skills, Café Momentum is helping give them a second chance. They are empowering young men and women to grow and obtain new opportunities that they once did not have.
With every purchase of the Fail Forward Print, Aesthetic Supply will give $5.00 for every print sold to Café Momentum to help them continue to help these young men and women grow and fail forward. If you would like more information about Cafe Momentum, please visit them at www.cafemomentum.org
Adolph Martin and Malik Runnels, Credit Haynsworth Photography
Chef Chad Houser and Malik Runnels, Credit Stanton Stephens
