Change Makers: Providence Granola Project
Brandon Dobro, Business Editor
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Business
Organization name: Providence Granola Project
Location: Providence, RI
Founded: 2008
Type: For-profit
Website: providencegranola.com
Product: Gourmet Granola
Problem: Tens of thousands of people (four thousand in Rhode Island alone) are forced to resettle in the United States after being driven out of their own oppressive or war-driven countries. Most then spend many years in refugee camps. Once they finally arrive in the United States, they are eager to becoming contributing, working members of society. Unfortunately, most of them have no work experience, limited transferable skills, and only a select number can speak, read, and write in English. "This presents significant challenges to becoming gainfully employed," says Geoff Gordon, Bryant alum and co-founder of Providence Granola Project. "Still they are hard-working motivated people who really just need help getting a foot in the door."
Idea: The Providence Granola Project was developed as a way to provide a platform that equips and empowers Rhode Island's refugee community toward long-term employment. They do this by manufacturing and selling gourmet granola - and they don't take any shortcuts. When the company was at Bryant for the Good Marketplace, Bryant senior Nick Kriss exclaimed, "That's the best granola I've ever had, hands down."
Of course, at the heart of any successful company are its employees. Providence Granola's employees include a kitchen manager named Evon from Iraq, a man from Myanmar, and several from the African nation of Burundi. "For some of them, working for us was their first job ever," says Geoff. "Our goal is to offer them critical work experience and culinary job skills they can put on their resume. Earning a paycheck and having a good experience on a working team builds their cross-cultural skills and provides a sense of confidence and fulfillment." In their short tenure, Providence Granola has already been successful in developing their employees. This year alone, five of the six refugees who started with the company have already advanced to more permanent employment.
How you can help: "That's easy," says Geoff. "Buy our granola." Their business strategy depends heavily on direct online selling. One particularly attractive special is their Granola-of-the-Month club where they will send two bags a month to your door, with a new recipe every time. Over the holidays, Providence Granola is hoping that people will consider giving three or six month gift subscriptions or simply purchase individual bags online.
"We wanted to create a realistic business setting and also communicate that refugees can be productive, contributing members of the marketplace. The more granola we sell, the more sustainable the Granola Project becomes, the more refugees we can equip and empower."
Location: Providence, RI
Founded: 2008
Type: For-profit
Website: providencegranola.com
Product: Gourmet Granola
Problem: Tens of thousands of people (four thousand in Rhode Island alone) are forced to resettle in the United States after being driven out of their own oppressive or war-driven countries. Most then spend many years in refugee camps. Once they finally arrive in the United States, they are eager to becoming contributing, working members of society. Unfortunately, most of them have no work experience, limited transferable skills, and only a select number can speak, read, and write in English. "This presents significant challenges to becoming gainfully employed," says Geoff Gordon, Bryant alum and co-founder of Providence Granola Project. "Still they are hard-working motivated people who really just need help getting a foot in the door."
Idea: The Providence Granola Project was developed as a way to provide a platform that equips and empowers Rhode Island's refugee community toward long-term employment. They do this by manufacturing and selling gourmet granola - and they don't take any shortcuts. When the company was at Bryant for the Good Marketplace, Bryant senior Nick Kriss exclaimed, "That's the best granola I've ever had, hands down."
Of course, at the heart of any successful company are its employees. Providence Granola's employees include a kitchen manager named Evon from Iraq, a man from Myanmar, and several from the African nation of Burundi. "For some of them, working for us was their first job ever," says Geoff. "Our goal is to offer them critical work experience and culinary job skills they can put on their resume. Earning a paycheck and having a good experience on a working team builds their cross-cultural skills and provides a sense of confidence and fulfillment." In their short tenure, Providence Granola has already been successful in developing their employees. This year alone, five of the six refugees who started with the company have already advanced to more permanent employment.
How you can help: "That's easy," says Geoff. "Buy our granola." Their business strategy depends heavily on direct online selling. One particularly attractive special is their Granola-of-the-Month club where they will send two bags a month to your door, with a new recipe every time. Over the holidays, Providence Granola is hoping that people will consider giving three or six month gift subscriptions or simply purchase individual bags online.
"We wanted to create a realistic business setting and also communicate that refugees can be productive, contributing members of the marketplace. The more granola we sell, the more sustainable the Granola Project becomes, the more refugees we can equip and empower."
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