We are about vocational training in a
supportive, encouraging, gracious, stable, and faith-based environment.
Relationships are our business.
OUR VOCATIONAL TRAINING BUSINESS
SVE has already started Swan Graphics, a screen printing and embroidery business. This business is used to teach graphic design, dark room, screen printing, embroidery, invoicing, purchasing, website design, e-commerce, administrative tasks, and janitorial skills. All these skills are taught in addition to soft skills, such as public speaking, sales, interpersonal interaction, and learning how to take instruction and constructive criticism.
Currently, this business prints and embroiders merchandise for specific customers. We have also expanded our e-commerce to include Etsy, a platform where our participants can design merchandise and sell one-off shirts. Our Etsy page has gained quite a bit of traction in the last year, reaching 1100 sales in August 2022.
SWAN GRAPHICS
OUR NEW BUSINESS START UP
SVE is starting Swan Seed Co., a seed and bulb farm. Employees will learn about marketing, sales, creating planting plans, plant identification, agricultural practices of fertilization, and water usage. They will also learn note taking for future planting plans and learning terms such as tender annuals, hardy annuals, seeds, corms, bulbs, and tubers will be involved. Learning how to use different types of equipment including rototillers, potato forks, spray backpacks, and soil blocking kits will be a part of the process.
Swan Seed Co. was created in hopes of being a training grounds and a feeder program into other farm operations in the community. We will use this as a platform to come along side young adults in the community.
Swan Seed Co. will build inventory as a working flower farm with hopes of becoming a seed, bulb, corm, and tuber company in following years. During the cut flower farming years (years 2023 and 2024), we will wholesale to local florists, offer market bouquets at local farm stands, and have on-site events to offset operating costs.
Check out our new website for Swan Seed Co.
SWAN SEED CO.
SWAN TRAINING
job & life skills
JOB PREPAREDNESS CLASS
SVE teaches a job preparedness class meant for attendees that come from multi-generations living in poverty. This class provides soft skills and other tools necessary to educate participants on why work is important and what is necessary to maintain employment. It also includes a certificate of accomplishment that can be shown to future employers if attendance and other requirements are met.
FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASS
SVE teaches a financial literacy class in which the following topics are covered: 1) goal setting; 2) money habits; 3) checking accounts; 4) credit; 5) budgeting; 6) investing, insurance and retirement; and 8) workplace etiquette. As these youth earn money from employment, they need resources and information to know how to manage these funds.
DRIVER’S EDUCATION
A key component in a successful economic life is a valid driver’s license. With the distance to the nearest driver’s education training center and the cost of classes, many young people do not get driver’s licenses. If they don’t already have a driver’s license, SVE teaches every employee over 18 a comprehensive driver’s education program.
COOKING & NUTRITION/COPING SKILLS
SVE teaches a basic cooking and nutrition class so employees are empowered to plan a meal, prepare a grocery list, cook the meal, and learn the basics of nutrition.
In addition, when young people transition from school to the workplace it is helpful to have some basic coping skills to manage the added stresses and complexities of adulthood and workplace expectations. This class is taught as a group.
SWAN TECHNOLOGY
We have a goal of exposing young people in the White Swan community to STEM related concepts and instruction. To help with that we have partnered with the local K-8 and high schools to teach robotics in the 21st Century programs.
In addition, we lead spring or summer teams to facilitate week long coding and robotics boot camps. If your church would like to participate in these programs contact Jesse Dempsen.
Exposing youth to these concepts and activities helps to show what is possible and also helps us develop relationships with future employees.
