Sunborne’s community outreach program
Sunborne Nursery is not only in partnership with our suppliers and customers, we are also in partnership with the Bayview - it provides us with our greenhouse facility and a great worforce that we appreciate tremendously.
While we employ a number of Bayview residents already, including our General Manager and our highest paid employee, we fully appreciate the fact that we can do more for the community with our business and horticulture experience and connections. That is the reason why we have taken on a number of community outreach programs.
Below is a quick summary of some of the work that we are involved with, and some that will begin very shortly. If you would like more information on any of the programs described below, please reach out to Dan at 415-821-7726 (or dan@sunborne.com). Similarly, if you would like to participate in any of the programs we are leading, or if you have other ideas for community outreach opportunities, please give Dan a call. We are always open to new people and new ideas.
- Sunborne created a partnership with Young Community Developers (YCD) in early 2011 focused on providing employment and job training to residents of the Bayview Hunter’s Point community. While the relationship continues to grow and evolve, here are some of our successes and plans for the future;
- Sunborne has hired 2 JRT graduates in 2011 as full time employees. Our hope is to hire an additional 1 to 2 more JRT graduates for full time employment in 2011 if our sales continue to grow or opening should develop
- Sunborne has provided part-time employment to 7 JRT graduates in 2011 (through May) and we intend to hire an additional 8 JRT graduates through the end of 2011. In addition to providing regular paid part-time employment to the JRT employees, Sunborne provides comprehensive hands-on training on such things as plant ID and care, greenhouse operation, customer service, shipping and receiving, and sales instruction. With this training, the part-time JRT employees are positioned well to get a full-time position at Sunborne or any horticultural business in the area; should they want a full-time position we will use our industry contacts to find them a job, coach them through the interview process, and provide mentorship them should they be interested.
- Sunborne participates in YCD’s Job Readiness Training program as a guest speaker and local employer with insight into the needs and expectations of the businesses in Bayview Hunter’s Point area. To date we have spoken to two JRT classes to reinforce the principles of the JRT program, as well as to provide an overview of Sunborne, career opportunities in the horticultural industry, and the skills and attitudes businesses like Sunborne looks for in new employees. Sunborne has been asked to continue participating in the JRT program and will be a guest speaker at the next three JRT classes scheduled in 2011.
