Green Bay Packers tight end Lance Kendricks toured the Sherman Phoenix Facility Tuesday afternoon. Kendricks and the Packers donated $50,000 to the project in early September.
Kendricks says he's impressed with how everything seems to be coming together.
"They've shown me the spaces where the artwork will go on the walls and stuff like that," he said. "So, it's an amazing space and I'm excited to see the finished product."
Co-owner Joanne Sabir showed Kendricks around the building. She took him through different floors, pointing out where each shop will go to help him visualize the final product.
"It's really an honor to be a servant leader and to be able to respond to the calls of my neighbors," said Sabir. "I'm excited, I'm thrilled."
The project owners says creating the Sherman Phoenix is part of a bigger plan to uplift and re-brand the Sherman Park neighborhood. Since the violent uprising two years ago after a police shooting, Sabir says continuous positive efforts can only make the local community better.
"This collaborative way of growing community is essential," she said, "It's really just being well sourced in really beautiful gifted knowledge of people and it starts with our neighbors."
The Sherman Phoenix will host small businesses-of-color that offer diverse foods, wellness services and cultural activities for the community. The project is expected to provide mentors and coaches for the entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, generate jobs and improve the economy.
The anticipated opening for the Sherman Phoenix is late November.
