Detroit Nonprofit Wins Second SOUP Event Funds

Detroit is a little bit closer to getting a new playground thanks to nonprofit organization All Four One, which won the funds raised by the second .

Held Sunday night at Fairlane Ford, All Four One went up against Detroit-based company Chive Talkin, but the former received the most votes, securing the win.

Dearborn resident and assistant Dee Hamka organizes the local SOUP event each month–an idea she came up with after attending a Detroit SOUP event. Now in its second month, Hamka said that she had hoped for a better turnout, but was happy to see community members attend and cast their votes to fund another great idea.

Chive Talkin, explained co-creator Jackie Jones at the event, “is a great, innovative way for us to use graphic apparel to bring a new awareness and knowledge about herbs and spices to the everyday common person.”

Started by Jones and her cousin, Daphne Zargar, the company uses the names of spices and herbs in catch phrases–like Sage Happens and Spread the Herb–to “deliver an in-your-face alternative message that promotes natural ingredients that have a proven history in food preparation and provide healthy, nutritional benefits.”

The women had planned to use the money from Dearborn SOUP to get their trademark and licensing going, as well as to start working on their Internet presence.

All Four One founder Ishmail Terry said that his organization has been through many transformations since beginning in 2006–the next stage of which will be partially funded by SOUP dollars.

Originally based out of the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, Terry moved All Four One to the O’Shea Recreation Center in Detroit, where he began partnering college students up with kids from five Detroit schools for mentoring and tutoring programs.

Now, All Four One is prepping to move into the old Hancock Elementary School in Detroit, which will be made into a new community center.

But the Dearborn SOUP funds will go toward another project: the building of a playscape in the neighborhood Terry grew up in.

The playscape should be completed by August, and will be located at the corner of Montgomery Street and Wildemere Avenue. Terry said he hopes to begin to give new opportunities to youth in the area.

“It would give them an opportunity to get out and get exercise; get some creativity and brainpower going,” Terry said. “I look at them as being me. I made it, and they can make it, too.”

Terry appealed to SOUP attendees’ wishes to strengthen communities–in Dearborn, in Detroit, and beyond.

“We are really an example of one organization that has a solution for the city of Detroit,” he said. “We’re asking for your support. Choose All Four One because you’re part of the same thing we’re doing, and that’s reaching out to build a better community.”