Meet Josiah Vega of Impact46

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josiah Vega.

Hi Josiah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Impact46 began as a desire to bring our city together to serve our community.

Built out of a prayer meeting at a local church, community and city leaders sought to bring Lawrenceville out of the “silos” it worked in; Impact46 was the result. Incorporated in 2016, Impact46 was created to impact the “46” or the 30046 zip-code by working throughout the six-sectors of our city: Businesses, education, faith groups, government, non-profits, and neighborhoods.

Impact46 established two major programs to do this work: Students46, which provides civics education, leadership, and workforce development for local high school students and the Lawrenceville Response Center, which stabilizes our city through housing resources, namely eviction prevention, temporary housing, and utilities assistance.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No story is always smooth sailing. We had our share of challenges, but we overcame them.

The largest challenge Impact46 faced was COVID-19. We were still in our infancy at the time. Despite being incorporated in 2016, the organization did not start coming into what it is today until 2018 with the onboarding of our current Executive Director, Jen Young, and the establishment of the Summer of Impact. When COVID-19 struck, we were barely two years into Jen’s tenure and the Summer of Impact Program itself. The number of staff was also very small at the time. The challenge was deepened by the fact that all of our programming was with students; we knew right away that the Summer of Impact would not be happening in 2020. Jen and the team had to pivot like so many others. This led to the creation of hybrid programming for the Summer of Impact – Love Lawrenceville Day – which has remained part of our programs due to the impact it has on students. What began as a creative way to remain in contact with students and staff, continues as another way to connect our local schools with Lawrenceville and has even expanded beyond just high schools to local colleges and specialized schools.

2020’s largest change came in the form of the Lawrenceville Response Center. The Center came out of a need for housing that became readily apparent, and we were tasked with addressing it. We hired staff and worked around the clock to find ways to get people in Lawrenceville the help they needed. The need was immense, but it also allowed us to continue to work as an organization and helped carry us through the pandemic. What was meant to be a short-term project ended up becoming an integral part of Impact46, expanding our staff and the footprint and impact we have on Lawrenceville.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
What should we know?
Impact46 exists to impact Lawrenceville and through Lawrenceville the surrounding community. Our mission is to impact people and improve cities through collaborative partnerships. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do and we hope to continue to build on this as we seek to care for the soul of our city, Lawrenceville.

What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for?

We develop and invest in Lawrenceville’s high school students, our future leaders and future community, and restore and rebuild our neighbors who have fallen on hard times. Students46 is our Program for high school students. Its focus is to provide civics education, leadership, and workforce development. Currently, we work at Central Gwinnett and Discovery as well as the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST), Maxwell, and Phoenix. The Lawrenceville Response Center (LRC) focuses on stabilization in our community by providing housing resources, namely eviction prevention, temporary housing, and utilities assistance. The LRC also conducts relocation projects periodically in partnership with the City of Lawrenceville that seek to move families and individuals from hotels and apartment complexes subject to closing. We do this in a humaine and dignified manner that sets them up for success and secures them continued housing in a better location. Lastly, the LRC is in the process of opening a Center for homeless men (not a shelter) in 2025; it will be the first of its kind in Gwinnett County.

What sets you apart from others?

Impact46 is unique in its wholistic and community-centered approach. We were founded in Lawrenceville, by Lawrenceville, for Lawrenceville. We do things based upon data and what is truly effective while involving those we work with. The end goal is collaboration and a healthier civic community. We also understand the importance of relationships and going deep rather than wide. That is how true impact is made, over time and with faithfulness.

What are you most proud brand wise?

We are most proud of our internship program – the Summer of Impact. It is our first program and one that has seen great success, placing students in careers several times over in its seven years while inspiring the creation of other non-profits and internship programs.

What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?

Impact46 is program unique to Lawrenceville, one that is becoming more and more known outside of our zip-code. However, you do not have to be in Lawrenceville to be a part of what we are doing. The Summer of Impact is always in need of new business partners to provide paid internships to our students – Central Gwinnett and Discovery students are excellent and just need the opportunity to show what they can do. We have partners throughout Gwinnett who work with us through the Program. If you have a heart for the homeless, especially homeless men, please contact us to learn more about the work we are doing to help address it throuh the Lawrenceville Response Center. It is a large need, but it can only be addressed as the community joins in unison. Come be a part and make an Impact!

Who else deserves credit in your story?
The City of Lawrenceville, in particular Mayor David Still, City Manager, Chuck Warbington, and their team. They are a close partner of ours and have been from the beginning. Much of what we do, happens because of their partnership.

Pricing:

• https://www.impact46.org/store/p/2023-love-lawrenceville-t-shirt
• https://www.impact46.org/store/p/tk0vqb4rgahalaic9z0njb1kfbob0q

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.impact46.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impact46_inc/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Impact30046/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact46-inc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@impact46inc.40

Image Credits
Croft & Associates (Rendering)
Rachel Janella Productions, LLC (Personal Photo)
Rees Media (Remaining photos)