Family Accomplishment: Opening A Sweet Place
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Beverly & Edwin Hilaire
The Hilaire family has utilized FII resources to start a new business. A Sweet Place which is a candy/sweets shop located at 1514 Dorchester Ave in Field Corner. The shop will have nostalgic candies from your childhood, decedent yummy truffles and more. A Sweet Place can also supply your next event with customized candy buffets or candy bouquet centerpieces. If you would like more information contact A Sweet Place at Asweetplace1514@gmail.com
Check out their grand opening and read about their Cash Mob experience!
Background
Beverly & Edwin have been married for 8 years and have three young children: Stephen 5, Harrison 3 and Riley 2. The family has seen its ups and downs within the last few years. Beverly is a stay at home mom and Edwin is an Structural Engineer by trade. He has been the main financial support for the family. During the peak of Edwin’s career the family decided to invest in real estate. At one time they owned properties in Providence Rhode Island, Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and West Roxbury.
The real estate market took a tumble
Like a lot of families in Boston, they soon found themselves underwater with their investments. Soon after Harrison was born in 2006, Edwin got laid off and has been unable to find consistant work for the past 3 years. He took temp jobs and smaller contracts to supplement his income from the rental property. During that time the family has struggled financially and needed to find a way to make a living. So after Riley was born, Edwin landed a better paying contract…in Haiti. Faced with being an instant single parent, Beverly held things together as long as she could. Edwin had to return home. They brainstormed and thought, ”there has to be a way to change things for the better.” Beverly and Edwin joined FII in August of 2011 just as this process was kicking off. They were in need of a computer because theirs had crashed.
Leaving a legacy
Beverly has always had the dream the one day having her own business. After talking it over with her mother, Mae (who is 66 years old), it was official. They would start the business right away with her mother as their first investor and partner. Her mother had been inspired by a commercial from ancestry.com. The one in which the man stated, “my great grandfather was born a slave and died a businessman.” With only a sitxth grade education, Mae wants a legacy and something of her own to leave as an inheritance. They looked at the various business ideas and decided to open A Sweet Place, which is a candy and sweets shop in Fields Corner section of Dorchester. A Sweet Place is the place to get nostalgic candies and treats from your childhood as well as customized candy bouquet candy centerpieces, party favors and candy buffets.
Why candy?
Candy was the profit maker for the general stores during the great depression! So with God’s blessings, Mae’s credit, the last of Edwin’s retirement money, Beverly’s vision and business skills, and FII’s money matching, A Sweet Place was born-debt free! The shop is expected to open in March 26, 2012.
Now that doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
The aforementioned gives an optimistc view, but everyday was not so sunny. Bev had all three kids by herself last winter with record snowfall. There were many obstacles to overcome in staying focused on this course with many days worthy of a pitty party! Between them there were 2 miscarriages, heart failure, nursing home visits, wheel chairs and tears. Stress, hives, arguments, counciling and prayers could be encountered on any given day. There were also foreclosures, bankruptcy and credit counciling, car accidents and bed bugs (or so Bev thought ;-). But if God is with them there will be healing, laughter, love, reconciliation, prosperity and legacy for Mae. To be in HIS Favor and to have the love of your family, it truly is “A Sweet Place,” in more than one way.
Family Accomplishment: Education is More than a Diploma
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Sonya Gordon
“Above are photos of my family with me on graduation day May, 2011. I am proud of this accomplishment because my husband pursuaded me to continue my education and gave me a great amount of support. One day I will be able to share in this same joy when he graduates from Roxbury Community College where he is studying Early Childhood Education to become a elementary school teacher.”
Background
Sonya is 41 years old and has three children, ages 11, 10 and 5. She has been married for 12 years. Sonia’s next goal is to open a Day Care Center.
She is in the Survivors’ Group. The group is currently brainstorming ideas on how to help people in their community. They are also planning a night out next week after their monthly meeting.
Family Accomplishment: Reconstructing Our Home
Sandra Centeio
“My fiancé and his brothers are working with family to reconstruct our home. One of my goals was to get my own home but we decided to fix the one we live in first. They have applied new shingles to make it nicer as well as to conserve the heat that was being let out from the old shingles. Although it is not a new home it still accounts for an accomplishment well achieved!”
Background
Sandra is 24 years old and has a 5 year old daughter. Her goal is to further her education so she can get a better paying job. She is now employed by the Boston Public School System (Mason Pilot School) as an Assistant Teacher.
Sandra brings lot of information to the group every month they meet. She is a great leader and willing to help whenever anybody needs help in the group.
Sandra is in the Irmaos Unido group. The group’s goal is to communicate with each other as often as possible to make sure everyone does their journals and if anybody needs help finding whatever resources they might need. One example is Elizabeth took Domingas to DTA office on Dudley Street.
