For European Americans in Minnesota the percentage of those that own homes is 79%. For the African American population the home ownership percentage is 32%. This gap must be closed. Stairstep operates a program called Bridging the Gap to increase the ability of African Americans to purchase and retain homes. Working with Fannie Mae, Powderhorn Residents Group, and key financial institutions such as Bremer Bank and Wells Fargo, Stairstep provides education, imaginative and flexible financing opportunities, and, as financial resources are available, small grants through African American churches towards home ownership.
Too often individuals and families in our community struggle because they are not connected to resources for assistance until some major drama occurs. With the drama, family disruption and long-term institutional involvement result. African American churches have always served critical needs of our people, but finances and staffing have been thinner than required to adequately accomplish the task. The churches that are in the Stairstep Community Reclamation Project (CRP) have joined with the Minnesota State Baptist Convention, the Minnesota Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ and the 7th Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World to form a broad church collaborative called His Works United (HWU). The Family Healing Restoration Network (FHRN) is a collaboration between Hennepin County and HWU to provide early, quality, and sustained services to individuals and families in need. Our goal is to reduce the numbers of families engaged in Child Protection Services.
Stairstep Foundation designed and implemented a model to illustrate the ability to create manufacturing entities in the inner city. The result was Siyeza, Inc., a contract co-packing company housed in a 65,000-sq. ft. facility in the heart of Minneapolis’ inner city. The project was achieved with the partnership of General Mills and Glory Foods, and financial participation by US Bank. In the nine years of active plant operation over 400 inner-city residents were employed and in excess of $12,500,000 was provided in salaries and wages to people of the community. The project demonstrated the possibility of creating meaningful jobs and the ability to collaborate between major corporations and community-based organizations for a community-building agenda. Several national awards were presented to Stairstep and our partners for the Siyeza project. Case studies of the Siyeza project continue to be presented in major forums from Cornell University to the Peter F. Drucker Foundation seminars.
The benefit of having trained and certified birth and labor helpers (doulas) is well documented. The incidence of infant mortality is reduced, second pregnancies are less likely, and many other good outcomes occur for child and family. Stairstep Foundation has a goal of producing 3 - 5 certified doulas in each affiliated African American church in the metropolitan area. Our doulas will also be able to provide a customized music package for mother and child to facilitate the labor and delivery process.
To eliminate the health disparities that have African Americans at increased risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. Stairstep is in a relationship spanning eight years with the Minnesota Department of Health to promote holistic health understandings and behaviors in our community. Twenty churches currently have health site coordinators that work with their pastors to bring information and sponsor activities to promote healthy eating and living.
