Because our goal at the Village is to create a vibrant community, we are planning a neighborhood with businesses, outdoor spaces, and gathering areas where residents and neighbors come together. Some of the businesses in the Village will be social enterprises, which are organizations with their focus on creating social good and working toward change. The Village enterprises help the community be self-reliant, create employment opportunities, and shapes connections between the Village and the community beyond.
Planning the Village Enterprises
We are still in the planning stage of building The Other Side Village, which means we still have time to decide which enterprises we want to bring to our community.
Some of our ideas for social enterprises include:
- A prepackaged cookie company
- Bakery or cafe
- Auto repair shop
- Commercial kitchen
We are asking friends and neighbors of the Village what they would like to see in the community. Weigh in here!
Why Have Social Enterprises?
There are three main reasons why The Other Side Village will include a combination of third-party businesses and social enterprises like those described above.
- Seeking Self-Reliance
Simply put, building and maintaining The Other Side Village takes work and money. Using a combination of third-party businesses and social enterprises is our strategy for becoming self-sustaining, where residents and the community pay for itself. The goal is to earn enough money to support the Village on an ongoing basis.
This isn’t a different way of expressing the simplistic “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality. This is putting into action one of our 9 beliefs: self-reliance. The principle of being self-reliant is at the core of our work because we believe that work is a fundamental principle of happiness. Striving, contributing, making effort, cultivating, these are all things that breed self-respect and dignity.
- Employment Opportunities
In keeping with our strongly held belief that working is key to happiness, the Village enterprises will provide employment opportunities for residents. No one in our community will be required to work, but we encourage villagers to explore and develop their potential and engage in worthwhile work within their abilities.
Read about our visit to La Fageda, Spain, where we saw a system in action that divided up tasks according to ability and accommodated those who wanted to contribute. La Fageda has found that a key component to the success of their disabled employees is their identification with a brand that provides high quality products that are appreciated by their community. They know that they are meaningfully contributing to a thriving organization and they take pride in the products they put on grocery store shelves.
- Connecting the Community
Establishing and maintaining connections between Village residents and the surrounding community is a key part of our vision. We dream of a larger community, encompassing the Village, the surrounding neighborhoods, Salt Lake City, and beyond! Our goal is to forge a positive relationship with residents and our neighbors.
Social enterprises draw people into the Village from the surrounding community. We encourage these regular, everyday interactions between residents and non-residents because they strengthen the bond between neighbors.
Another Piece of the Puzzle
Combined, the social enterprises, the third-party businesses, the community spaces, and the gathering areas will contribute to a vibrant, thriving community. And we can’t forget the residents! Using social enterprises is just one part of our plan to create a place that facilitates connection with others.
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