Anthony Vasquez: NESTLED IN A SMALL PLAZA ON THE CORNER OF WEST AND SEYMOUR STREET
STANDS THE BRADY MARKET.
THE EIGHT-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT STORE WEST OF DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN
OFFERING THERAPY AND JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAMS SINCE IT OPENED LAST MAY.
ITS HELP COULD NOT COME AT A BETTER TIME AS RISING CRIME RATES CONTINUES
TO LEAVE THE SURROUNDING MINORITY COMMUNITIES AT RISK.
THE STORES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KEVIN FRANK BELIEVES THE MARKET’S UNIQUE
JOB TRAINING MODEL IS A LEAST A SMALL STEP TOWARDS HEALING THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
Kevin Frank: So we want to take our workers on day one and then do a 12-18 month job training program where they can move into a job whether its food related industry related or not that’s closer to their career path, and then help them get to that next place.
Anthony Vasquez: THE HELP DOESN’T STOP THERE AS THE STORE IS CONTINUING TO TAKE STEPS
TO HEAL THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THROUGH MENTAL OUTREACH.
Kevin Frank: We’re providing case management, access to therapy, mentoring, and learning circles and we pay people to recieve those services. We pay people to work on themselves. If you work on yourself, you can do anything.
Anthony Vasquez: FRANK’S ENTHUSIASM TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY COULD BE FELT THROUGHOUT
THE STORE FROM ITS EMPLOYEES TO STAFF.
JESSICA PORCELLO, ONE OF THE MARKET’S CARE COORDINATORS,
SAYS THE BRADY MARKET ALLOWS HER TO TOUCH INDIVIDUALS IN A SPECIAL WAY.
Jessica Porcello: I think my favorite part is reaching individuals and forming connections and help them to have a better aspect of their life all around.
Anthony Vasquez: MEANWHILE CASHIER TY’SONYA BOWENS SAYS THE STORES HEALING
PROGRAMS ALLOW HER TO GET MORE OUT OF HER WORK.
Ty’sonya Bowens: So after I’m done working, I can get some healing hours and that can go onto your paycheck. It’s more than like a regular job there. We also have a therapist we can talk to, so if we’re having anything. we can schedule appointments with her.
Anthony Vasquez: ONE OF THE MAJOR THEMES THE SHOP PRIDES ITSELF ON IS BEING
MORE OF A COMMUNITY CENTER RATHER THAN JUST BEING YOUR AVERAGE
GROCERY STORE.
THAT ASPECT WAS REPEATED FROM PORCELLO
Jessica Porcello: I think we’re all apart of a community and family.
Anthony Vasquez: TO BOWENS,
Ty’Sonya Bowens: The previous grocery store, it closed, and people in need of food had to travel the next few miles.
Anthony Vasquez: TO EVEN MEAT BUTCHER CHRISTOPHER CORNELL.
Christopher Cornell: All the staff is are just very close to one another, we’re just one big family essentially.
Anthony Vasquez: WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE CITIES RISING CRIME RATES, FRANK WAS
QUICK TO PIN THEM ON COMMUNITY NEEDS NOT BEING MET.
Kevin Frank: You provide support and people flourish, you don’t provide support you put yourself and others in dangerous places.
Anthony Vasquez: THE HELP THE STORE PROVIDES KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF THESE
DANGEROUS PLACES AND PROVES WHY THE BRADY MARKET IS MORE THAN A STORE.
ANTHONY VASQUEZ N-C-C NEWS.
Syracuse N.Y. (NCC News) – Nestled in a small plaza on the corner of West and Seymour St. stands The Brady Market.
The 8,000 square foot store in Syracuse’s West Side has been transforming the community through its therapy and job placement programs since it opened last May.
Since then, they have been working to help surrounding communities gripped by rising crime rates and poverty rates.
“We want to train our workers on the first day to be prepared to do a 12-18 month job training program where they can move into a job that is closer to their career path,” said Executive Director Kevin Frank.
He believes this unique job training model is at least a step in the right direction.
However, the help doesn’t stop there as the store is continuing to make strides by offering mental outreach to their employees.
“We’re providing case management, access to therapy, mentoring, and learning circles meaning we’re paying people to work on themselves,” Frank also mentioned.
The large corner store is allowing even the therapists to take something from their work.
“I think my favorite part is being able to reach individuals and form connections while also helping them have a better life all around,” Care Coordinator Jessica Porcello said.
“So after I’m done working, I can get some healing hours that go into my paycheck. The therapy also allows me to schedule appointments whenever I need to,” cashier Ty’Sona Bowens added.
Enthusiasm throughout the store was abundant from cashiers, to customers, and even meat butchers.
“All the staff is very close to one another. We are all one big family essentially,” said butcher Christopher Cornell.
All of this help cannot come at a better time as the poverty-stricken neighborhoods are desperate for support.
Lucky for them, the market is not short of it.
“You provide support, and people flourish. When you don’t provide support, you put yourself and others in dangerous positions,” Frank said.
The help the store provides keeps people out of dangerous places and proves why The Brady Market is more than a store.
