Aromatic spearmint tea, a garden bed overflowing with rainbow chard and a clarifying facial oil. What do they have in common? They all contain organic ingredients grown at GEM!
Since 2011, GEM’s urban farm in San Rafael has grown plants, careers and community through its paid job-training program. Each year, over 40 participants build skills in communication, teamwork, business management and horticulture. The supportive work environment, along with a whole-health approach that includes workshops on Executive Functioning and Financial Literacy 101, makes up GEM’s multi-faceted curriculum, designed to be a launching point for bright careers and financial independence.
Along with an abundance of blooming flowers and vine-ripened veggies, this spring has ushered in a new opportunity at GEM to partner with Sausalito-based skincare company, Botnia. Organic, natural botanicals and extracts are Botnia’s secret to keeping their customers’ skin healthy and illuminating natural beauty, which is why they partner with local farmers to source the highest quality ingredients.
“I’m so beyond excited to be able to provide incredible resources for Botnia! Especially because I use these products on the daily.” -Jessy
When GEM’s director, Josh, learned that Botnia uses fresh, local herbs and flowers in their products, he jumped at the opportunity to connect with Botnia’s founder, Justine. Justine loved that in addition to providing premium ingredients for her customers, partnering with GEM would support people with disabilities as they discover their passions and skills. One GEM participant in particular, Jessy, is ecstatic about the partnership, as she uses Botnia products daily and now gets to grow the plants that will be used in her favorite skincare routine.
As a social enterprise within the disability services and advocacy nonprofit, Integrated Community Services (ICS), GEM is always looking for mission-aligned partnerships that create new opportunities for people with disabilities. For Jessy and other program participants, this partnership is an opportunity to learn how plants can be used medicinally, how a supply chain works and could even lead to future employment opportunities, as Botnia looks to grow and further diversify their workforce.
“I’ve found through my own experience with dyslexia and challenges in school, that a hands-on job has offered me the ability to excel and thrive. It’s so powerful to work with a community jobs training program like GEM who is teaching adults access to the same thing that I was able to access that made me so successful: one-on-one training outside of a college setting.”
-Justine Kahn Founder of Botnia skincare
Watch this partnership blossom on Instagram with @ics_org and @botniaskincare!