What is the name of your solution?
Wahbanung Employment Service
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
The Wahbanung Employment Service (WEC) is a specialized employment service designed to support Indigenous individuals who are reentering their communi
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Winnipeg, MB, CanadaIn what country is your solution team headquartered?
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
According to Statistics Canada, both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have the highest rates of Indigenous adults incarcerated, accounting for 75% of all admissions to jails in both provinces. Also, in the Federal prisons Indigenous people make up 30% of the population but only represent 5% of Canada.
There are two sides to the story:
Over-incarceration costs too much with over $100k spent per year to house a federal inmate, it's destroying families and communities and is about punishment not healing.
The other side is the barriers that exist for an Indigenous person being released from prison. They are compounded and invisible which include intergenerational trauma, addictions, lower-level of education, no ids, no transportation, racism, no sense of identity, no family, colonization, and poverty.
What's a person to do when they can't healthily provide for themselves because of all the barriers they face? They most likely end up back in prison, so this cycle has to end.
What is your solution?
Red Rebel Armour’s approach to reducing recidivism is knowledge-based and is not about teaching our relatives entirely new skills but building on existing skills to help our relatives realize their gifts, strengths, and valuable experience through on-the-job paid training in a culturally safe work environment.
Our warehouse offers on-the-job paid training for relatives, teaching them essential skills like operating and maintaining a heat press, basic inventory management, and gaining sales experience.
In addition to this training, relatives have the opportunity to engage in cultural activities and pursue a streetwear certification through Parsons School of Design in partnership with Complex Magazine.
Furthermore, we offer additional support tailored to the individual needs of our relatives. If we cannot provide specific assistance, we make referrals and strive to connect them with the necessary resources.
Which Indigenous community(s) does your solution benefit? In what ways will your solution benefit this community?
We work with mainly Indigenous youth 18 -29 but have worked with older relatives, that have had involvement with the criminal justice system.
I'm from the community I'm serving and we're constantly engaging with community and community engages with us, through partner agencies, social media, our friends and family, we get lots of referrals from partners.
Anyone we employ becomes an active part of the solution its the way the business model is set up.
The solution addresses their needs because they face barriers to employment and having a meaningful job that pays decent can provide their basic needs and creates a sense of self worth. The culture component takes care of the person on the inside and learning about your identity helps as you navigate the new world. This leads to long term housing, employment, post secondary, completion of programs with justice, family reunification, an increase in pro social behaviour, and decrease in substance use.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
Our advantage stems from my personal journey as a former gang member and addict, providing firsthand insight into the needs of our youth. As a father of nine, with five in their youth, I understand the importance of creating opportunities. Since October 2018, I've been developing this initiative, experiencing both successes and setbacks. However, our achievements outnumber our challenges, with relatives now at home, serving as positive role models for their children.
Our team comprises Indigenous youth under 29, all of whom have navigated the system and are committed to supporting each other by fulfilling their roles diligently. As we've expanded within our industry, our revenues are now exceeding $1 million.
Furthermore, we've established partnerships with numerous Indigenous organizations, fostering employment and training opportunities. Our connections with Red River Polytechnic and Futurpreneur provide additional pathways for our relatives' advancement.
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
OtherWhich of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
What is your solution’s stage of development?
PilotWhy are you applying to Solve?
We need help with it human capital and public relations and monitor and evaluation
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Sean Rayland-Boubar
Please indicate the tribal affiliation of your Team Lead.
Anishinaabe - Sagkeeng First Nation
How is your Team Lead connected to the community or communities in which your project is based?
I'm an ex-gang member and addict from the community I serve in.
I'm also a band member from Sagkeenf First Nation.
I'm also a Social Entrepreneur.
What makes your solution innovative?
First off we're using streetwear as the industry to fund our initative and that requires innovation in terms of equipment and software, we use eco-friendly ink on recylable paper, and use high-quality blanks that are ethically sourced.
We manufacture our own garments using a heat press and digital transfers, we create our own designs using graphic design software, and do our own marketing and sales using Shopify an ecommerce platform. Plus we do our own fulfillment and inventory management and we use cloud software to manage it all.
We also invested in chat bot technology which we tripled since aquiring the knowledge. We're also upskilling relatives in these areas especially communication apps like Slack.
We're also flexible in terms of our employment service because we understand the barriers are relatives face, and if this year your not ready to change maybe next year when you are and we're still around we'll give you another chance because community work is about kinship not punishment and all we're really trying to do is provide a safe place for community members to come and thrive.
How it impacts the community around us in this space is it compliments other employment and training services and probation services, by helping someone find employment and complete programs with justice, or it serves as an employment placement after someones completes their employment and training programs.
Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.
What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?
Describe the core technology that powers your solution.
The core technology is ecommerce because without the customers buying our products we have nothing to manufacture since we press on demand.
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new business model or process that relies on technology to be successful
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:
https://redrebelarmour.ca/
In which parts of the US and/or Canada do you currently operate?
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
How many people work on your solution team?
6 Fulltime Staff
1 Virtual Guru
How long have you been working on your solution?
Since 2018
Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.
We ensure our team is diverse by sticking to our Ansihinaabe roots we don't judge anyone as long as they're of good character they will be a good fit here.
Everyone on our team is currently Indigenous.
What is your business model?
Red Rebel Armour uses the service subsidization model of social enterprise, which is a company selling products or services to an external market and uses the profits to fund its social programs.
In the service subsidization model, business activities and social programs overlap, sharing costs, assets, operations, incomes, and many other attributes.
Reference – www.4lenses.org/setypology/models
Red Rebel Armour offers a diverse range of clothing and accessories that incorporate Anishinaabe and street culture designs and motifs. The product line includes:
1. T-Shirts and Hoodies: High-quality, comfortable streetwear featuring bold and intricate Indigenous artwork, patterns, and symbols.
2. Headwear: Caps, beanies, and hats that showcase Indigenous motifs and embroidery, providing a distinct and stylish addition to any outfit.
3. Outerwear: Jackets and coats that fuse traditional Indigenous elements with contemporary urban fashion, incorporating unique prints, patterns, or beadwork.
4. Accessories: Statement jewelry, bags, wallets, and scarves that reflect Indigenous craftsmanship and traditions, providing a touch of cultural authenticity to everyday accessories.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?
We plan on selling our products and services, alongside selling our branded streetwear we also provide custom printing services for local businesses and organizations.
Here is a copy of our recent financial management report, but its being revised but its the best thing I can show for demonstration for now.
Solution Team
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Our Organization
Red Rebel Armour Inc