Organization aims to help build careers and futures
Momentum, an organization founded in 1991 by the Mennonite Church and rebranded in 2006, has been a tremendous asset to low-income, unemployed and underemployed people, helping them to start a business, manage and save their money, and find a good job.
Throughout those years it has been in the Greater Forest Lawn area — initially on 17th Avenue S.E. and for the past 20 years on the corner of 28th Street and
Radcliffe Drive. Now, executive director Jeff Loomis and his staff are preparing for another move, across the parking lot into Radisson Centre facing onto Memorial Drive.
Momentum is nearing the end of its lease and needed more space, but felt it necessary to remain on the east side of the city where most of its clients reside, with lots of parking and good access to transit. Its interest in relocating across the lot was generously received by the owner of the centre, Airstate, which offered help to renovate the interior of its new space. Momentum has leased the entire 24,000-square-foot ground floor of the three-storey building, which gives the organization much-needed additional meeting rooms and larger classroom areas. It also brings all of the staff of 70 into one building instead of being scattered and cramped in surrounding bays.
And Momentum is helping more clients with their needs every year. In 2019, it worked with almost 2,500 participants, reached an additional 7,000 through partner programs, trained 91 for careers in the trades, gave 73 micro loans and created 117 new jobs.
A good example is Pansie, who had worked in restaurants in Jamaica, and wanted to pursue her passion to have her own baking business in Calgary. With the help of a Momentum Starting a Business course and her talent for creating stunning cakes, she brought 120 cakes to her first market and sold every one. Pansie is now in business with her Hudson Spirit Cakes.
Reducing financial stress is a key focus for Momentum. Its clients benefit by having access to loans to start their own businesses, and classes to learn how to manage and save money.
Clients are taught the importance of building a saving behaviour and are eligible to enter a matched saving program in which every dollar they save will earn another $2 to
$3, provided largely through donors. Last year, savers earned more than $300,000 in matched savings, and went on to purchase 267 assets.
Momentum is also training other organizations on how to introduce savings programs that will increase its effect five-fold.
And a new app is being launched that has the potential of reaching a target of promoting savings plans to 1,500 Calgarians.
To help people start their own business, Momentum offers coaching, networking opportunities and Micro Business Loans. Repayment rate is steady at more than 90 per cent and in its 20 years the organization has loaned almost $3 million.
Loomis says Momentum’s future focus is in providing more training, helping get good jobs or assisting clients with self-employment and financial empowerment. An example of a new Momentum initiative is a successful technology training program; 84 per cent of last year’s cohort are employed, some with employee partners such as Longview Systems that hired four and ATB Financial where two others were offered employment.
NOTES
■ David Michiels has been a prominent figure at the Willow Park Wines & Spirits flagship store for more than 20 years, leading tastings, educating customers and teaching classes on the fine art of scotch whisky. He has announced his retirement and the store and the many clients who have benefited from his knowledge and passion for single malts will surely miss him. “David’s contribution to our business and the industry overall is immeasurable, and we will be hard pressed to replace his knowledge and connections,” said Willow Park president Peggy Perry. Michiels, an inductee of The Keepers of the Quaich and the only buyer in the world granted the privilege of buying four exclusive Glenfiddich barrels, will be honoured at the store’s annual Whisky Festival on Friday.
■ Congratulations to Cassandra Mcauley, who has been promoted to vice-president of communications and stakeholder engagement at Tourism Calgary.