The Problem? It's You, Not Me
THE PROBLEM? It's You. NOT ME.
Last week I shared my journey over the past two years and the BTS groundwork for this next chapter. Honestly, it was an amazing response from you! I feel so supported in this next step and that’s a great place to be. A year ago, I felt overwhelmed. I felt alone and that the weight of You Belong Here was much too heavy to carry forward to real impact and change. During COVID I witnessed the very problem YBH hopes to solve, our creative community struggling, disenfranchised, and on the verge of poverty, I felt helpless.
You Belong Here conducted a survey in June of 2021 to learn about the state of our creative community. There were 123 people who responded. The findings shocked me, but they also encouraged me to keep building, learning and growing.
According to my survey, 47% of respondents earn less than $25k of income (prior to COVID) from their creative business or intellectual property as freelancers. This made me uncomfortable.
According to the San Diego County’s Self Sufficiency Standard report, “The income needed to make ends meet in San Diego County is 4.1 times more than the Federal Poverty Level.” The federal poverty level for a three-person family is ~$22K. Yeah, this is not okay. How are we creatives getting by in San Diego??
Through outreach, I met with 20 creatives and learned about their small businesses or creative endeavors and how COVID impacted them. Over 85% of them said they did not receive business relief from COVID; Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA for Freelancers), or the California COVID Relief Grant, nor any local grant opportunities.
My in-depth conversation revealed that many creatives in our community do not file their taxes, do not have EINs (Employer Identification Numbers), or have business licenses. Not only COVID relief funding, but also most federal, local, and county grants, require all of these things.
A large part of those monies from COVID relief went to the same companies and organizations they always go to, due to their systems in place and ability to acquire that funding.
I realized that the creative community lacks business development acumen. Sure, we have the SBA and so on. However, talking to creatives one-on-one, they felt as if they didn’t BELONG in the business world. When a creative explained how they wanted to start a business selling zines and digital prints, they were assigned a mentor from SBA who was a retired CEO of a bank. He told them that their business would not be scalable or profitable and that it was just a hobby. For real, how many of us have heard that?? 🙋🏽♀️
That retired CEO said that because he isn't creative. Where he comes from, in terms of industry, is rooted in the rigid thinking of corporate capitalism; a place that leaves us out! Our creatives can build scalable and profitable businesses, but San Diego lacks business development resources tailored to creative arts. That is why our community of creatives is struggling to thrive here. Sorry San Diego, it’s giving an “It’s you, not me” vibe.
People who understand our creative language are essential. We are building new narratives. How we operate might differ from traditional businesses. Yet, we out here making this world a better place and in doing so, we have the potential of monetizing and expanding our imaginative experiences. The rigid thinkers will say that’s not what business is about. Well, we don’t need them.
I feel like you probably have an idea of where I’m going with this. But hang tight, next week I’m officially announcing You Belong Here’s BIG PIVOT!! 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks for hanging in there with me! There was a lot to be said.
With Love and Power ✊🏽 from City Heights!
Nic Roc
