Founder of Salemtown Board Co., Will Anderson, Demystifies Struggle vs Risk
In starting the social enterprise, Salemtown Board Co. in 2012, Will Anderson uses his background in social work to provide opportunities in the North Nashville neighborhood. Anderson frames his talk with questions about what is true and what is the alternative; encouraging all to see that struggle doesn’t equal failure—it’s essential to the journey. Risk is not a season before you jump, but rather a continuous part of doing what you truly want to do, the way you want to do it. In an age where entrepreneurship is sexy, he reminds us that success is not a destination and the best kind of risk is on something that’s bigger than yourself. More inspiring Creative Mornings Nashville talks at https://creativemornings.com/cities/nsh
About the speaker
Will Anderson grew up in a beach town in Central Florida skateboarding and surfing. He moved to Nashville in 2012 with the hope of working with young men who were at risk for gang activity. He moved to the Salemtown neighborhood which was at the beginning stages of gentrification and founded Salemtown Board Co. in October of 2012 with $300 seed money. From the very beginning Salemtown Board Co. has been an exercise in making the best skateboards possible while figuring how to use the business to be for the good of the neighborhoods it exists in. The company does this by hiring young men and using the context of a first job to help train them for future employment and education.
At the end of 2015 Salemtown Board Co. moved out of Salemtown because its employees could no longer afford to live there. The company is now in North Nashville continuing its mission to better the community through job creation.
Will is passionate about community development, social enterprise and seeing the creation of a racially and economically diverse Nashville that is good for everyone.
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Hosted by
Salemtown Board Co.
1003 Buchanan St
Nashville, Tennessee United States 37208
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