Local West Side business works for the betterment of the Black community

	By JaCarla Anderson, Reporter, The Real Chi

Earth's Remedies x UIC Community Consulting Competition (10/10/2020):  E.R. Staff

Photo Credit: Antonio Mitchel

Earth's Remedies: Fresh to School - Resource Event (08/30/2020)

Photo Credit: Javon Smith

Homegrown on the West Side of Chicago, Earth’s Remedies is a non-profit community organization made up of volunteers that have a first-hand knowledge of what it is like to struggle in an area of their lives without the appropriate help. The mission of the non-profit is to use the collective privilege and knowledge of its founders and volunteers to help uplift the Black community on the West Side.

Mercedes Pickett, chief executive officer and founder of Earth’s Remedies, founded the organization in 2016 after having a conversation with her sister, Amanda Pickett, about what the West Side community lacked and where they needed major improvements. (Amanda Pickett currently serves as Earth’s Remedies director of career development & communications.) This conversation prompted Mercedes Pickett to launch a platform that would identify any gaps or existing problems on the West Side then provide resources to address those issues. 

“I believe in educating the community helps retain development without displacement,” said Mercedes Pickett.

The Picketts grew up in the Humboldt Park/Garfield Park neighborhood and saw how their parents, who at one time owned a restaurant, Shady’s Soul Food Restaurant, provided free meals for community residents facing housing insecurity and on events such as Mother’s Day. Their parents also hosted different pizza parties for their classes in grade school.

“[Our] family adapted to being in a low income community and not having a lot but being blessed and fortunate for what we had and sharing it with others,” said Mercedes Pickett.

Mercedes’ drive to assist her community had such an impact on her brother, Charles Pickett, that he too began working with Earth’s Remedies in 2017.

“I saw [Mercedes’] vision and the passion on what we could be and do for the community by putting our best foot forward and showing action,” said Charles Pickett, who is currently the vice president and chief business development officer.

Earth’s Remedies’ structure of strong family values is what sets the pace for the organization. This is seen in their work throughout all their partnerships including working with undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Through this partnership, Earth’s Remedies has provided education support to 45 incoming UIC freshmen. Earth’s Remedies offered the students two keys of advice: find options that allow for them to grow in their interest by keeping networks of mentors and explore internships that offer certifications.

For graduate students, Earth’s Remedies sponsored a business competition in 2020 which paired students with small businesses on the West Side for consulting sessions. The non-profit recently paired a group of students with a local travel agency, Gone Again Travels, which is owned by a Black woman, to help craft a strategy for her business to thrive despite the COVID-19 pandemic. After that session, students were able to win trips to Cancun, Mexico through that business owner.

Additionally, Earth’s Remedies has launched and/or participated in various community outreach efforts on the West Side of Chicago such as: 

• Created partnerships with businesses, colleges/universities, etc. to offer free tutoring, financial literacy, and more to community members of all ages.

• Partnered with community organizations for the Save the Westside Chicago Campaign. This campaign was created in response to George Floyd’s murder and the destruction portions of the West Side. 

  • Fundraised $43,000 to distribute to 26 different businesses to provide financial assistance toward rent, marketing, or other areas that helped their daily operations.

• Found affordable housing and provided clean water to community residents

“It’s inspiring to see their reactions to real life stories coming from the West Side and Garfield Park and actually seeing people doing something with their lives instead of paying attention to the media and having them control the narrative about the West Side,” said Charles Pickett. 

Earth’s Remedies' next upcoming event is their summer Juneteenth Resource week that will have “a little bit of everything for everyone,” according to Mercedes Pickett.

For more information about Earth Remedies visit their Facebook or Instagram page.