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Eaglevision Recently Recognized!
Click to see how Eaglevision has recently been celebrated in the media. more
Dream Cones and DreamWorks!
Click link to learn about new businesses in Lansing making an impact. more
Employment & Training for Vets!
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Dream Cones & DreamWorks Open
Click link to learn more about Dream Cones & Deli or DreamWorks Detailing. more
Mentors needed for Youth Program!
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Eaglevision Recently Recognized in the Media!
Eaglevision Recognized by Fox 47 for Promoting Jobs:
 Eaglevision Recognized by Fox 47 for Dream Cone & Deli Grand Opening: Eaglevision was recognized by Fox 47 for promoting new businesses in Lansing. Read more about the grand opening of Dream Cone & Deli and join South Lansing for on Saturday September 24, 2011 9am-5pm for the microenterprise flea market. At the event you can enjoy fresh treats prepared by Dream Cones & Deli along with supporting local business from Greater Lansing. Click here for Dream Cones & Deli Grand Opening Poster.
Fox 47 Article from 9/23/11:
Local Non-Profit Helping Others to Get the Job Done
By Stefanie Pohl September 23, 2011
Eaglevision Ministries is a non-profit organization that remains very true to its name.
As their website explains in 'Eagle Facts': Eagles have a strong affection for their young. They show it by protecting and providing for them, as well as by educating them and teaching them to fly. The mother stirs them out of the nest and flutters over them, showing them how to use their wings. She even has them lay/fly on her wings till they have learned to fly upon their own. (Source: Matthew Henry)
The metaphor of the protective, supportive eagle is fitting for the organization, which started in 2003, originally as a way to bring help and support to ex-offender women, their families and communities.
Over the years, their organization has expanded to help all ex-offenders in the mid-Michigan area get re-acclimated to society, find jobs, learn trades, and use their skill strengths. Through different grant opportunities, their outreach has spread to those who are disabled and/or disadvantaged in some way.
As mother eagle figures, members of the organization provide the necessary support and encouragement, but also steer those in need towards a future of independence and success.
When we sat down with the Associate Director of Eaglevision Ministries, Tony Woods, it became clear very quickly that he has a passion for his work as one of those 'eagle figures'.
We spoke with Mr. Woods about the history of Eaglevision, his involvement with the organization, and the exciting micro-enterprise ventures that are beginning to pop up around the Lansing area.
FOX 47 News: You've been with Eaglevision for 11 months. What was your background in before coming to work for the organization?
Tony Woods: I was a teacher and a principal. I graduated from Michigan State University, and was President of Spartan Marching Band. The CEO of Eaglevision, Dr. LeClaire Bouknight, her son was a student at Okemos High School when I was teaching there. That's how we met, so we've been good friends since then. I was a guest speaker for Eaglevision before I even worked for the organization, and I didn't even think about working here, but the opportunity came up. It's been the best decision of my life.
FOX 47 News: What is your role in helping offenders know about the opportunities through Eaglevision as they are preparing to enter back into society?
Woods: I go into correctional facilities, along with Derrick Jones who is the Prisoner Reentry Director for Capital Area Michigan Works. We partner together and go into Ionia, Jackson Cotton, Charlotte, and we do what we called Career Club sessions. I do Work Key assessments, and talk with the offenders about the transition process. Most of the offenders that I work with know me, or have met me before they are exited from the correctional facility, so we have a really solid relationship to help them. Each offender has to have a plan of action, and it varies. I have several in my program who have done 30 years, so we try to help them close the digital gap. I have to teach them how to pump gas - a lot of the basic things. We help them with resume development, interview questions, appropriate dress for interviews and job search. And I become a family member to some of them as well, because sometimes they have nobody in their lives.
FOX 47 News: Eaglevision Ministries seems to have expanded from its original intention and mission. What has caused this branching out of sorts?
Woods: Eaglevision actually started as a program for ex-offender women, and it just expanded from there. There are always grant opportunities that come about, and as a faith-based organization, we begin to search out those different grants where you can help different populations. A lot of vision of a non-profit is driven by grant opportunities, as well as our hearts. We kind of follow and combine the two, so that's driven us to expand. We're partnered with Capital Area Michigan Works, and a lot of times they request us to do things, because when Eaglevision does it, they know we're going to do it well. We have a very good name in the community.
FOX 47 News: Dream Cones and Deli is having its grand opening celebration on Saturday. Tell us about it.
Woods: We are really excited to be opening Dream Cones and Deli. It is a part of a project under the supervision of Eaglevision Ministries, headed by Dr. LeClaire Bouknight, primarily helping ex-offenders. It also helps youth and adult worker populations, as well as disabled people, and disadvantaged people. This is a project we have been working on with Second Chance Employment Enterprises; it was organized and developed this year to help this population of people, who might be having a very difficult time finding employment. We started one business prior to [Dream Cones], DreamWorks Auto Detailing, which was just featured in the LSJ. Now we have started Dream Cones and Deli. The opening will be held Saturday from 9-5, featuring a flea market.
FOX 47 News: How did the whole idea of dream-themed businesses begin?
Woods: Dr. LeClaire is a visionary. She had the vision of it, and that's how she operates. She sees things and she just needs the people that can carry it out. So when I came aboard 11 months ago, I really just grabbed hold of the vision of the organization - of micro-enterprise - and I started doing what it took to go ahead and get it started. We definitely have the man power. We have several hundred people in our program - the Ex-Offender Reentry Program itself - so they come with varied skills and we think, let's put these guys to work. Some of the guys in the program have suggested ideas, and with very minimal cost we were able to open the detail shop. With the revenue that they're bringing it, it helps to provide their salaries and other supplies, as well as Dream Cones. So Dr. LeClaire is definitely the visionary of that, so we're very grateful for her.
Our overall vision is to have a Dream Center, where we'll have several businesses with the name "dream". We already have DreamWorks, Dream Cones... we're looking forward to opening Dream Cleaners as well, which will give our participants who polish, buff floors [an opportunity]. A lot of them receive certificates from the correctional institution, as so we want to tap into their skills. We really believe in micro-enterprise and business opportunities for our participants. Because of their criminal conviction, they can have a very difficult time finding employment; it can be very frustrating because they get turned down quite frequently. So we encourage them to start their own business. We jump start that, and push that effort. We have a young man who is managing both Dream Cones and DreamWorks, and they both get stellar reviews. We haven't had any loss at all. We have confidence in the clientele and are ready to move forward with the spirit of the entrepreneur.
FOX 47 News: What do you see as the future for these start-up businesses? Do the skill sets of your members inspire what the next Dream business will be?
Woods: It does. What I do a lot of work in is for development of qualifications and skills. I focus a lot on people knowing what's the difference between a qualification and a skill. People aren't really taught resume skills, even in college. They're not really taught how to put together a contemporary resume. A lot of the people who come out of the correctional facilities do get certified in a lot of areas. They know how to do certain things, so we might as well use the skills and qualifications that they already have. It hasn't come to fruition yet, but we were thinking something along the realm of DreamScape, for landscaping and snow removal. We could act as an employment agency, as a second-chance employment enterprise. We have that momentum, and it's necessary because this ex-offender population is a huge chunk of the population. It helps makes society better when you deal with it, instead of putting the problem under a rug. It makes society safe, because it keeps people from re-offending. That's the impetus of what we do.
Dream Cones and Deli's grand opening will be held Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The grand opening will feature a Flea Market where local artists and vendors will be selling their wares. Tony Woods tells us that the manager is an aspiring nutritionist, and is looking towards creating healthier versions of the treats that will be served.
Dream Cones and Deli is located at 2104 S. Cedar in Lansing, just a building over from Capital Area Michigan Works.
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