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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlicia Velasquez - Indigenous Collective^ = I = Iowa City Indigenous Collects LM.� Iowa City Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs 1 May 1, 2023 Contents 03. 04. COVER LETTER GENERAL DESCRIPTION 05. COMMUMNITY RESILIENCE 06. PROJECT BUDGET 07. TIMELINE 08. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE 10. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS Cover Letter May 1, 2023 c/o Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City redmond-jones@iowa-city.org Dear Mr. Jones, We are proud to submit a letter of interest for the Iowa City Inclusive Economic Development Support for Underestimated Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Our group, called the Iowa City Indigenous Collective, is comprised of seven main partners -- The House of Dotfizhi (lead applicant), South Side Street Foods, Great Plains Action Society, Red Hawk Art, Water Panther Consulting, Carrie Schuettpelz Consulting, and the Iowa City Summer of the Arts. We are applying under both projects (1) physical space and (2) business support programs to serve as a hub and cultural space for the indigenous community of the Iowa City corridor, as well as an incubator for Native -owned businesses and nonprofits. In the following pages, you will find all requested materials. Please let us know if there's anything else we can provide. Thank you for your consideration, Alicia Velasquez Alicia Velasquez The House of Dotfizhi dotlizhi@outlook.com , `J 3 General Description In Iowa City, we sit upon land that at one point belonged to the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk Nations. In Iowa more broadly, nearly 70 Native American tribes have once resided on this land. Today, there are over 55,000 people who identify as Native American and/or Alaska Native living in Iowa -- nearly 18,000 of whom reside in Johnson County and its surrounds. Yet, opportunities for Native economic development and place -making -- whether it be community gathering space, restaurants, small businesses, or innovation hubs -- simply do not exist in our state. We at the Iowa City Indigenous Collective aim to change that. Specifically, we are proposing the development of a space to house: • a boutique selling handmade Native art by Midwest Indigenous artists • up to three leased offices, including for partner Iowa City Summer of the Arts, • a Native foods cafe, • up to two Native nonprofits and a shared administrative office, • a large, well -lit multipurpose hub. Not only would this space serve to bring together the Native community in important ways, it would also serve to address a simple fact. That, in Iowa, Native people face incredible barriers to success. When compared to the average Iowa resident: • Native people are twice as likely to be unemployed • Native people are three times as likely to live in poverty • Native people are three times less likely to have a college degree Beyond being a space where Native people can network -- important elements in creating mentorship and increasing access to knowledge and information -- the ICIC will support the goals of Iowa City's strategic plan in important ways. This includes: • Events to support indigenous entrepreneurs, like: grant -writing workshops, apprenticeship programs, seminars on acquiring loans and other financing, college readiness classes • A shared -cost model for Native -owned businesses and partner nonprofits housed in the space (electricity, administrative duties, internet connectivity, etc.) • Events for the broader Eastern Iowa community on indigenous history; cultural competency; and diversity, equity, and inclusion; invited speakers -- including Native writers and thinkers Taken together, we are confident that -- with the City of Iowa City's support -- the ICIC will serve as a powerful springboard for future inclusive economic and community success. ICIC Proposal 4 11b •it a* - . a. Statement o�,.� Resilient I Like many others, we in the Iowa City indigenous community find ourselves picking up the pieces following the onslaught of the COVID pandemic. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, American Indian and Alaska Native communities have experienced some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the United States. Native people were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for the virus. For many people in our Native community - particularly our elders - these patterns led to lengthy periods of isolation and disconnection from community. Native -owned businesses and nonprofits also experienced disproportionately high impacts from the pandemic. According to the First Nations Development Institute, 69% of Native nonprofits expect to see a revenue decrease as a result of COVID-19. Moreover, 1 in 5 Native nonprofit organizations has not received a grant to support their work within the last 3 months. It is, therefore, with a renewed sense of purpose that we at the Iowa City Indigenous Collective intend to build our community. Although the University of Iowa has a Latino and Native American Cultural Center (LNACC), many members of our Native community -- particularly our elders -- do not feel comfortable in university spaces. Rather, we must create an intentional space to cultivate our multi - generational community. In addition, developing opportunities for Native -owned businesses and nonprofits, whether they are new or rebuilding post -pandemic, is of critical importance in creating more equitable economic success in our community. 40% ICIC Proposal Project Budget all numbers are estimates Income Source Source National Science Foundation - Midwest Innovation Engine Grant (finalist) Iowa City Summer of the Arts - contribution for space plus monthly lease Other Grants Capital Campaign Start -Up Expenses Expense Amount building - renovation or $ 3 million construction furniture and technology $50,000 sub -grants to Native small $50,000 business owners technical assistance $50,000 grand opening speaker $20,000 and celebration NATIFS + Rez Fest visits $10,000 Iowa City Powwow $20,000 Amount TBD TBD TBD TBD Fixed Expenses (2-yr request) Expense Amount electricity & internet $200,000 / annual * 2 yrs rent or property taxes $200,000 / annual * 2 yrs administrative support + $100,000 grant mgmt / annual * 2yrs insurance $50,000 / annual * 2 yrs events, marketing, ads $250,000 / annual * 2 yrs TOTAL $ 4 million ICIC Proposal 6 Project Timeline Stage One Building Identification, i5est Practice Analysis, Fundraiser • Offer made on 121 W Benton Street or similar property • Learning trips to Minneapolis (NATIFS) and Las Vegas (RezFest) • Pursuing additional grants and establishing capital campaign Stage Two rograrn Renovation of Nevelopment, community Input space begins • Establishment of apprenticeship program and training materials • Tribal consultation with Iowa First Nations Tribes Stage Three Renovation and Beautification, Marketing, Apprenticing • Renovation of space completed and space finalized • Targeted advertisement and marketing campaign • Apprenticeship program begins Stage Four .• . • . • Space blessing and tours to the public • Programming begins (seminars and workshops) • Grand Opening celebration with invited guest speaker Proposal Alicia Velasquez (Apache, Yaqui) is the creator and owner of The House of Dotl'izhi, Iowa City's first woman -owned Native American business. She is an award -winning artist having won awards for excellence from both the Iowa City Summer of the Arts and the Des Moines Art Festival. Her work has been featured at Indigenous Paris Fashion Week, Phoenix Fashion Week, the DUMA Craft Invitational, JCK Magazine, Native Max, and numerous other publications. She is the co-founder oftwo nonprofits -- The Autism Center and Fourth Sister Rising. In that capacity, she has experience in the areas of fundraising, financial management, employee oversight, and training. She is a sought-after public speaker, giving talks throughout the country on v, issues like small business ownership, indigenous enterprise, Native traditions, autism and developmental disabilities. She lives in Alicia Velasquez Iowa City with her husband and children. owner, The House of entrant Daniel Velasquez (Yaqui) is the Restaurateur and Chef of Iowa City's first fry bread truck. He has over 30 years of restaurant and hospitality experience, ranging from full -service restaurants to fast food. Prior to opening South Side Street Foods, he was a field leader at Chipotle — working his way up from cashier in just six years. He is a successful business cultivator, having trained and developed ten General Managers and four Restauranteurs during his time with Chipotle. He was also responsible for increasing sales four years in a row over plan, and received a best cash flow award. Daniel's experience in the food industry is as diverse as it is robust, having served in capacities from dishwasher to trainer, from shift leader to accounting manager. During his time in Phoenix, he helped open the first Starbucks in a municipal building and scored a 100 percent on the notoriously difficult barista test. He is the cofounder of the nonprofit, The Autism Center, and has experience in the areas of financial management, employee oversight and training, and food service. He lives in Iowa City with his wife and children. Daniel Velasquez owner, south side street roods Sikowis Nobiss (Plains Cree/Saulteaux) began her life's work of uplifting Indigenous voices at 19, when she got her first job at the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council in Fredericton, Canada. In 2015, she founded Great Plains Action Society as a way to increase Indigenous solidarity in Iowa City. In that capacity, she has applied for and received grants from a number of entities, and has managed those grants. In February 2017, during the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, Sikowis began Little Creek Camp, From August 2017 to September 2020, she worked for Seeding Sovereignty where she organized at a national level. As her heart is with her people and the prairies, Sikowis returned to Great Plains Action Society where she can work at a grassroots level and a fully Indigenous -led organization. Sikowis is also a speaker, writer, and artist. She graduated from the University of Iowa in Sikowis Nobiss 2008 with a Masters Degree in Religious Studies (with a focus on Native American Religion and Culture) and a Graduate Minor in Founder, one. Pielna American l ndian Native Studies. She fights for a better future for her two young children. She lives in Iowa City. Action Society Carrie Schuettpelz (Lumbee) has nearly 15 years of experience in the public policy field. She spent seven years as a homelessness policy advisor in the Obama Administration. In that capacity, she managed the budget process of over $40 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development; reviewed grant applications and determined awardees; provided technical assistance to community partners; and led strategic planning initiatives nationwide. She is an expert in social policy and affordable housing, and an experienced consultant on issues of Native economic development and policy. She has served on several boards of directors, including for Iowa's statewide homelessness funding known as the Continuum of Care. In September 2022, she sold her nonfiction book The Indian Card to Flatiron Books. She holds an MPP from Harvard University, and MFA from the University of Wisconsin and a BA from the University of Iowa. She lives In Iowa City with her husband and children. Carrie Schuettpelz consultant Shelley Buffalo (Meskwaki) is a food sovereignty, rematriation and restorative justice advocate. Through collaborative partnerships and her consultancy, Water Panther, Shelley mindfully directs her labor to penetrate and transcend the colonial mindset. Shelley believes that this undoing and reweaving is Grandmother's lesson for human life on earth. Each time we reweave the fabric of society, we have the opportunity to make it more beautiful" She also serves as the Decolonial Pathfinder for Great Plains Action Society, an Iowa City based nonprofit aimed to increase Indigenous solidarity. In 2021, she joined Seed Savers Exchange, one of the largest nongovernmental seedbanks in the United States. In her role as Seasonal Seed Steward, she Z_ preserved heirloom plant varieties through regeneration, distribution and seed exchange. Prior to that role, Shelley served her Shelley Buffalo community in coordinator roles at Red Earth Gardens and with Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative. Decolonial Pathfinder 8 Judy Morrison (Cherokee, Osage) is the owner of Redhawk Arts. She has spent twenty-three years working for the State of Iowa, as the Native American Consultant for the Department of Corrections and the Department of Human Services at the Cherokee Mental Facility. In that capacity, she advises Native offenders and staff on issues related to ceremony, re-entry, and sustainable success. She is also an expert on Native enrollment and membership policy, and is the person responsible for verifying tribal affiliation of Native offenders. For fifteen years, she was the founder of a nonprofit called Seven Feathers, which worked with Native children with disabilities across seven states. She has previously served on the Iowa Governor's Advisory Commission on Native Americans, and helped established the Commission on the Status of Native Americans under former Governor Chet Judy Morrison Culver. She is also thee former Chair of the University of Iowa's Human Rights Commission. She is a Long-time Iowa City resident. owner Redhavk Arts Lisa Barnes (ally) has served since 2009 as the Executive Director of Summer of the Arts, Inc., an Iowa City -based nonprofit arts organization which provides free arts access to music, visual arts and movies through a variety of festivals and events. During this time, she has led fundraising and marketing initiatives as well as expanding the programming and its reach of free events. She has overseen grant management of a variety of grants including funding from the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and National Endowment for the Arts. Barnes was the fiscal manager on an "Our Town" grant from the NEA, which focused on programming in underserved areas of Iowa City. Prior to her tenure at Summer of the Arts, she owned her own meeting planning business for 13 years, where she planned and produced a variety of continuing education sessions, events and conferences throughout the country. Barnes believes in supporting her community and has been involved in a variety of roles including serving on the Board of Directors of the Iowa City Downtown District and Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. She is Lisa Barnes currentlya member of the Iowa City Downtown Rotary Club. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the Eumftye smote, iewe Y Y g City Sommer or the Arts University of Iowa and a certificate in nonprofit management from Iowa State University. She Lives in Iowa City. Thom Johnson (Karuka), Iowa City Area Business Partnership Meskwaki Nation Workforce Development Libby Washburn (Chicksaw), Consultant Sarah BLais, New Bo City Market Diegane Dione, Human + Machine Rise Ventures Kate Hoff, NATIFS 9 Space Comparables Samples of commercial spaces that are currently available in Iowa City, including pricing and square footage Space Visualization Images depicting what the space might look like in its most ideal form Sample Programming Mock-up brochures and ads for potential programming Letters of Support • Sara Blais, New Bo City Market • Cady Gerlach, Better Together 2030 • Diegane Dione, NSF Midwest Innovation Engine • Darlene Wind, Iowa City Native community elder ICIC Proposal i1e7 121 W Benton St list price: $1,600,000 square footage: 4,480 pros: location, parking cons: small space, needs some renovation io S Gilbert St list price: for rent square footage:4,523 pros: location cons: small space, no parking, needs total renovation 2835 Northgate Dr list price: $Z,850,000 square footage:17,967 pros: large space, updated features, free parking cons: location 1816 Lower Muscatine Rd list price: $6,975,000 square footage: 84,Z77 pros: free parking, updated features cons: location, space very large Space Visualization Below are spaces we would take inspiration from in our own renderings of ICIC Sample Networking Event Sample Calendar of Events Sample Program Ad IOWA CITY INDIGENOUS COLLECTIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS Ir April 7-14, 2025 MON MAKERS MTG' FAFSA 101 12 PM 6PM KIDS HOUR BOOK READING 10AM 6PM y WED MAKERSMTG' DRUM CIRCLE' 4-12 PM 6PM 10 THUR YOGA' BEADING CIRCLE' C SAM 6PM FRI ELOERS'COFFEE FOOD PANTRY' 10AM, 5PM SAT NATIVE MARKET NETWORKING' 6mPM p 4PM EwRARRAI IruREnHARARE I euATE RA ARE THE TO THE RUE II FOR I RE HER V15 IT JS AT WNW — 13 Letters of Support ............................................... 1100 3b St SE Cedar Rapids Iowa 52401 May 1, 2023 c/o Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City redmond-jones@iowa-city.org Dear Mr. Jones, It is my honor to be writing a letter of support for the Iowa City Indigenous Collective project proposal. In my role as the Senior Director of Market Operations at NewBo City Market, I oversee all aspects of our operations including mission and delivery around equitable business incubation and economic development in our community. After personally discussing the project proposal with Alicia Velasquez and her husband, Daniel Velasquez, I can confidently say that they are on the cusp of something that could revolutionize not only the equitable development of Iowa City but the Indigenous and Chicano communities at large in the state and region. As a recipient of federal dollars and several private foundation grants prioritizing economic development and equity, I can easily recognize a necessary and pivotal project when I see one. As a personal and professional mentor on this project, we will be providing connections to our network of funding sources throughout the development of this project to ensure it is sustainably funded in its first five years. NewBo City Market will also serve as a model for business incubation services that can be translated to the needs of the Indigenous and Chicano communities that will be served through the proposal. NewBo City Market was instrumental in the revitalization and economic prosperity of Cedar Rapids as it recovered from the flood of 2008, and we see an opportunity in this proposal to recreate that momentum and achievement in Iowa City. A project such as this will ensure an investment is returned to the city ten -fold in a matter of years through the equitable economic development that it will foster. We encourage you to invest in that vision and reality by funding the Iowa City Indigenous Collective project proposal in full. Sarah Blais Senior Director of Market Operations NewBo City Market 1100 31d St SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 BETTER TOGETHER 2030 A SNARED FUTURE FOR JOHNSON COUNTY April 2023 To the ARPA Selection Committee for the City of Iowa City: This is a letter of support for ARPA funds for the Iowa City Indigenous Collective. It clearly aligns with the All in Vision and pillars outlined as priorities by the Better Together 2030 and visioning process feedback by the entire community as well as the Inclusive Economic Development Plan opportunities, barriers identified, and recommendations. Providing a collaborative and accessible space that creates a sense of belonging and promotes entrepreneurial activity will allow native community building, economic development and place -making to develop, grow, and become a vital part of the inclusive economic ecosystem here in Iowa City. Additional places to network and creating entrepreneurial spaces that are authentic and vibrant that are unique to communities they seek to serve are an important part of the BT2030 All in Vision. The proposal clearly identifies possible locations, and the team has done the work to know what is needed to make this a reality. They have also gathered an impressive team, advisory board, and network of individuals that are committed to the success of this project that will make it a reality. The determination and passion for this work is not only evident in their proposal, but in the community and trust building that has occurred in the previous years that led them to this point. This, coupled with the team's abilities, will no doubt lead to the project's success. Native people were negatively and disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which ARPA dollars seek to help alleviate. The public investment dollars through ARPA also provide a once in a generation opportunity to expand transformational projects and initiatives that are otherwise unavailable. With that, Better Together 2030 support this proposal and will support the Iowa City Indigenous Collective to make this project a reality. With our support, Letter of Support from Heartland Innovation & Regional Engine"" (HIRE) To Whom It May Concern Heartland Innovation & Regional Engine' (HIRE) is a consortium of 20 plus organization members to that was formed in November 2022 as an entity for a proposal that was submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Regional Innovation Engine program this past January. Our consortium includes 20 plus public and private partners including 2 Fortune 500 companies and 4 Universities: U of North Dakota, Missouri State U, Kansas State and U of Iowa. In a nutshell, the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program is a bold new initiative committed to creating regional -scale, technology -driven innovation ecosystems throughout the United States. The NSF is looking for multi - stakeholder partnerships involving state government, universities, industry, entrepreneurs, and VC funds collaborating together around innovation (startups formation), workforce development and solving societal challenges (STEM education, DEI, poverty etc.) https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/regional-innovation-engines The NSF Regional Innovation Engine program represents a unique opportunity to help increase venture capital Investments in these Heartland States and startups founded by Native American. Native American entrepreneurs face a number of demographic -specific challenges that can hinder their ability to start, finance, and grow entrepreneurial ventures. If our proposal is funded by the NSF (pending decision in Q3 of 2023), HIRE will collaborate with Iowa City Indigenous Collective to help achieve these main goals: • Purposeful, beneficial societal impact to the regional Native American community by directing significant resources and activities to increase STEM education, training, and new business formation. Challenges faced by the Native American community with respect to lack of learning/communication infrastructure and culturally appropriate engagement model resources are a key priority for the HIRE initiative. • HIRE has established a collaboration with the Iowa Native American Council (NAC), with Dr. Carrie Schuettpelz as a representative. NAC will broaden its work, particularly around educational enrollment and job training. NAC will work together with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to create programming at all Iowa regent institutions, as well as community colleges throughout the region. Funding from the NSF Engine grant will support a) additional (Native) staff to create partnerships and oversee the work; b) scholarships to technical and community colleges, as well as 4-year institutions; c) internship stipends; startup incubators; and d) community building initiatives aimed at bringing Native partners to the table. • Enablement of Native Americans Entrepreneurs by having HIRE source startups founded by Native Americans. HIRE Innovation Team will include a team of Native American Innovation Ambassadors (e.g. former entrepreneurs and educators from the community) to develop a communication, engagement and sourcing strategy and plans specifically for Native Americans entrepreneurs. Signed: _ _. .a �Print Name: Diegane Dione, HIR �doeosyaz aFpsagntember . 2 0 2 3 Date: 4—__-- Organization: Heartland Regional Innovation Engine, LLC (HRIE) "doing business as" Heartland Innovation & Regional Engine (HIRE) To Whom It May Concern: Below is my story. I tell it to you in the hopes that it will demonstrate how much we need an indigenous space in Iowa City. I was adopted and lost contact with my biological, and Tribal family when I was 4 years old. I was sent far away from my home in Northern Minnesota. I grew up on a farm in rural Iowa, outside of Iowa City. I was adopted by a white couple that could not have children of their own. They adopted two white baby boys and another Native American girl from my reservation but we were not related. I was raised to not value that part of myself that was Native. Well, you can take the girl off the Rez but you can't take the Rez out of the girl. After studying, traveling and just living surrounded by other Natives from various Tribes I finally moved back home to my Reservation. I worked 17 years for the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and 19 years for the US Forest Service. I was transferred to Albuquerque, NM and worked for the Forest Service for 15 years there until I retired. I moved back to Iowa City to be with my daughter and grandchildren. Immediately after moving I spent the next two and a half years traveling back to my rez and back to Albuquerque, traveling anywhere but here. I had come full circle, back to a place that was devoid of Native culture, and no other Native people to interact with, trying to survive here to me was like living in a black hole. My life was about to change for the better. A friend texted me a link to a website that had information about an Indigenous woman who had opened a boutique and was selling her art and jewelry. My friend offered to introduce us next time I came back to town. We went to her store and I met Alicia Velasquez, bought her jewelry, talked with her and we became fast friends. Unbeknownst to her she had thrown me a lifeline. The relief of knowing I was no longer alone was indescribable. Through Alicia and attending activities at her store I have met more Native Americans with families that reside here and in the surrounding area. It was and still is unbelievable to me, that these people are here, having grown up isolated for so many of my formative years. It is wonderful to have a community with like minded people to share ideas and learn from each other. Many tribes are represented in this ever-growing group of Indigenous people. We have a lot to learn about each other. about our cultural differences and similarities. We are a close knit yet welcoming group, that supports each other spiritually, mentally and emotionally. These fellow two leggeds are my Tribe and family!! Sincerely, Darlene Wind Iowa City ASTf� PLANNING May 1, 2023 Redmond Jones, Deputy City Manager City of Iowa City Re: Iowa City Indigenous Collective project Dear Mr. Redmond, On behalf of my company, Astig Planning, I am truly honored to write a letter of support for the Iowa City Indigenous Collective project. If funded, this project will demonstrate the commitment Iowa City has to elevate and support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) business ventures, making our town a model for others throughout the midwest. As the senior planner for the Inclusive Economic Development Plan (IEDP), I was overjoyed to hear that a project of this magnitude was coming together. This is exactly the kind of opportunity we hoped might be possible, if given adequate resources. I say `hoped might be possible' because we could never have dreamed of such a powerful collective emerging. I have worked with many of the people represented in this proposal and each of these individuals are formidable community leaders in their own right. This group has the passion, community resources, and vision to successfully create the groundbreaking new venture proposed. This project, in turn, has the power to heal, change lives, and contribute meaningfully to Iowa City. The IEDP outlined several areas where the city could invest resources and remove barriers, such as creating more access to educational opportunities that are taught by and for BIPOC business owners and hosting financial literacy demonstrations. The main IEDP recommendation outlined the creation of neighborhood -level business hubs with BIPOC leaders at the helm, who could provide safer communal spaces for other BIPOC-led businesses. The Iowa City Indigenous Collective breathes life into this idea and shows us what this looks like for our Native -led businesses. The statistics are stark when we look at our Native populations, whether it is food insecurity or low wages or any other category of social determinants of health. Our Native communities are living in a post -apocalyptic country, one where their communities have suffered genocide and have had little to no opportunities to create generational wealth. This is a grim picture. I don't write these words lightly. What you have in this proposal is nothing short of a gift —an opportunity to re-create, rebuild, and re -imagine what is possible for our Native -led business community and all of Iowa City. I urge you to give this project all of the attention it deserves. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, V V Fixmer-Oraiz CEO & Founder, Astig Planning Asti& Planning works toward a world of activated communities, healthy ecosystems, and lasting equity. A world in which those most impacted by today's social problems are at the center of creative, community -based solutions that lead to full and dignified lives.