About Beans and Rice, Inc.
How We Were Founded:
Beans and Rice grew out of a series of classes being taught by Dr. Nelda K. Pearson in the Department of Sociology at Radford University. These classes were seminars around alternative breaks. Several students enrolled repeatedly across semesters. This caused Dr. Pearson to create more and more challenging leadership rolls. At the same time she was teaching classes that focused on service-learning. Students from these classes were placed at low income housing unit after school programs in the city. These courses began to converge into a service oriented path which by spring of 1997 was becoming very clear.
In March of that year Dr. Pearson arranged for a retreat at Highlander Research and Education Center through her good friends Joyce Dukes and Guy and Candie Carawan , all staff members at Highlander. The following students and former students attended that retreat with Dr. Pearson: Zeldoy “Pete” Barger, Stephanie Jo Edwards Hudgins, Eric Bucey, Dannah Card, and Brooke Thompson. The focus of that retreat was on whether we wished to continue to do this service through course work (which was becoming more and more difficult to arrange) or whether we should take this on as a serious path and incorporate. We concluded we were serious. These six people are the founding members of Beans and Rice, Inc. Our incorporation papers were filed by Dr. Pearson with the aid of Carol Cook Devilbiss, an attorney who did this pro bono. We received our charter April 8, 1997 and received our 501 (c)(3) in January of 1998. Radford Rotary Club donated the filing fee of $475.00. Our founding set a pattern of accomplishing much with little and is summarized in our name.
How We Got Our Name:
In the last Alternative Break Class before incorporation, the class met in an old abandoned dormitory lounge. This lounge had a kitchenette with sink and refrigerator. The class decided to do a weekly fund raiser by having a simple meal of beans and rice which was cooked in crook pots and brought to the lounge. The idea was that people would have the meal (which cost little to make) and leave a donation. The class members took turns dealing with what needed to be done. Each week we asked each other in the short hand that grows around projects “Who’s doing beans and rice this week.” Although only $250.00 was raised across the semester, it became a great community builder, a kitchen table talk moment for both class members and friends. In the service-learning courses, students from Dr. Pearson’s class were placed at Willow Woods and New River Gardens After School Programs. Pete Barger (one of the founding six) was an AmeriCorps member placed with Radford University’s Service Learning Center. He was the University staff in charge of these programs. The only funds available for program materials and snacks was the small stipend that came with the AmeriCorps position. This was not enough and the children were constantly hungry. We started a dinner one night per week. So many people from the former class were involved that we continued to say “who’s doing beans and rice” although beans and rice had nothing to do with it. Beans and rice had become code for who’s taking care of business.
At the retreat we worked on a name and kept coming back to Beans and Rice. Highlander Staff, especially Candie, encouraged us in this. She pointed out that beans and rice was a complete protein, was cheap, and provides for a basic need. Yes, a total metaphor for how we saw ourselves working.
Our philosophy:
We listen to the community by being with the community rather than being service providers. By "being with" we mean that we provide safe space for community members to interact with each other and with us in parity. In this safe space Beans and Rice becomes the community. As a group we work to recognize, claim, own and act on our individual and community resources and capacities. We recognize that preparing community members to struggle in the competitive individualism of the school and work world is insufficient to bring about permanent change for us as individuals and as a community. Our goal in the short term is to provide knowledge and skills for school and work. Our long-term goal as individuals and as a community is to be change drivers in society.
Awards
Awards to Beans and Rice:
- Virginia Tech Outstanding Service Learning Site:
- We were honored at a luncheon and presented with a certificate for our ability to nurture student leadership.
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2000 JC Penny Golden Rule Award Winner:
JC Penny Corporation presented us with a framed certificate, a crystal trophy, and a $1,000 contribution for outstanding, group volunteer work.
- 2006 New River Community Action Outstanding Collaboration and Partnership Award
- 2006 Radford City Finalist in the All American City Awards
- due to Radford/Beans and Rice partnership in the Individual Development Accounts program.
- 2006 Virginia Municipal League Award
- for the Beans and Rice Individual Development Account program.
Awards to Dr. Nelda K. Pearson for serving as Executive Director pro bono since 1997
- 2000 Governor's Community Service and Volunteerism Award
- This state wide award recognized Dr. Nelda Pearson as "Outstanding Volunteer of the Years." She was nominated for volunteer service as Executive Director of Beans and Rice, Inc.
- 2001 Radford Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year
- for Outstanding Service to our Community.
- 2001 Jim and Lenna Moore Community Service and Citizenship Award
- This New River Valley award sponsored by the American Red Cross Voluntary Action Center, YMCA, and AARP to Dr. Nelda Pearson “For your volunteering spirit, dedication and devotion and ‘providing short term solutions while working for long term change.”
- 2006 Excellence in Virginia Government Community Enhancement Award
- from Virginia Commonwealth University L.D. Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
- February 12, 2007 proclaimed Dr. Nelda K. Pearson Day
- by City of Radford for continued commitment to the City and community.
- 2010 NRV Leading Lights Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- Community Volunteer Awards, Virginia Tech German Club Alumni Foundation
