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Building A Future With All Power To Da People

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Konscious Kontractors (KK) aims to combat climate gentrification by beautifying South Florida communities through landscaping design and renovation of properties while providing at-risk youths with job-training skills. We are a collective of community members formed in response to Hurricane Irma.


(Members of Konscious Kontractors boarding up a home in Liberty City a week prior to Hurricane Irma)



Before Hurricane Irma, KK led the effort in helping vulnerable populations board up their homes, including the elderly, disabled, and low-income, many of whom did not have the financial means or transportation options to evacuate. With our own money and support from the Irma Community Recovery Fund, we purchased equipment, had a van donated to us by FAMN (Haitian Women of Miami), and got to work.
(Michael Clarkson and Felton Pierre of Konscious Kontractors preparing to cut down a tree in Little Haiti)




Once Irma passed, we immediately went into action by assessing the damage and began assisting low-income neighborhoods such as Little Haiti, Liberty City, and Overtown. We took stock of the trees fallen on homes, laying in their backyard and caved in roofs, tree-stumps on sidewalks blocking access to residents and the surrounding environment and debris still strewn on street corners. With each problem we encountered, we developed solutions: if we had to a cut a tree and didn’t have the proper tools, we purchased what was needed, or if we saw a roof was damaged and needed to be patched, we bought the necessary tarp.



(Konscious Kontractors Michael Clarkson & Omar Desire along with local volunteers working on a home in North Miami Beach)


(Michael Clarkson, Felton Pierre & Francois Alexandre of Konscious Kontractors setting a tarp on the roof for a resident in Liberty City)



Despite the mainstream narrative of Florida Governor Rick Scott, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, and the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners that the government’s response was swift and adequate, we saw with our own eyes that everything was not back to normal. Given the County’s slow response to Irma, we realized we had the opportunity to assist the people in a genuine manner, as well as to further build community.

(Francois Alexandre and Michael Clarkson of Konscious Kontractors cutting out a tree stump in the backyard of Ms. Julie Seraphin, a resident of Little Haiti)


(Francois Alexandre of Konscious Kontractors interviewing Ms. Julie Seraphin, a resident of Little Haiti, after we cut out a tree stump in her backyard. She explains how we came along to help after driving by her home one afternoon and seeing another man struggling to do the same work with simply a machete and calls Konscious Kontractors a group of Good Samaratans after we told her the job was for free)



The work we’ve been doing in our community has been without pay and for free. This type of work typically costs thousands of dollars— particularly after a natural disaster when contractors may charge increased fees. As Konscious Kontractors, we are driven by a love ethic and are not profit-driven. Nevertheless, we are seeking funding to continue our mission of serving the people. Konscious Kontractors has the long-term vision of helping people reach self-determination by fixing our communities as well as providing our youth job training opportunities and helping to create a sustainable economy.

(Francois Alexandre and Michael Clarkson cutting down a tree which fell on top of a vehicle belonging to Ms. Laura Everett, a resident of Little Haiti)



(Konscious Kontractors interviewing Ms. Laura, a resident of Little Haiti, after we cut down a tree which was laying on top of her car and blocking access to the front of her home. It was not until after we completed the work, we learned she was a veteran and double amputee who was forced to stay behind in Miami during Hurricane Irma because she had attempted to reach out to city social services and did not get a proper response)



The funds raised go towards maintaining our van, fuel for travel, purchasing more equipment, establishing an apprenticeship primarily for youth of color, and expanding Konscious Kontractors as a viable business supporting the South Florida economy.


(Michael Clarkson of Konscious Kontractors speaking from the back of the van we use about the work we've been doing and how to donate to our work)
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    • $30 
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Konscious kontractors
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Aventura, FL

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