Innovation

Though chocolate itself is not a new innovation, Confections with Convictions provides a unique opportunity to those with juvenile records. Often times, juvenile records and criminal history lead to hardships in finding work in the labor force. After interviewing Dale Anderson, the founder of Confections with Convictions, the innovation became clearer:

Anderson, a former counselor in the juvenile justice system, discovered that most of the kids he counseled did not need counseling as much as they needed an opportunity. “I wanted to provide kids with an opportunity to start their life on a different path," he said. With that, Anderson started Confections with Convictions. "Convictions" was a clever use of wording. Anderson used it to refer to both employing youth with criminal records and to his core principles as a business which:

• Makes wholesome, delicious, high quality confections.
• Utilizes organically grown, fair trade and locally sourced, ingredients whenever possible.
• Treats their customers, employees, and suppliers in an honest, friendly, and professional manner.
• Supports environmental stewardship through their choices of ingredients, processes, and packaging.
• Provides fair compensation for their employees, and for those whose labors provide their ingredients and supplies.
• Hires people who have barriers to regular employment.
• Works to make their business, community, and world more peaceful, just, joyful, and environmentally sustainable.

Inspiration

Anderson wanted to help these young adults any way he could. Through years of counseling, Anderson realized that many of these kids wanted to work and wanted to live a better life. However, the opportunities were just not there. With that, he was inspired to provide an opportunity to those who wanted it.

When thinking of a business model and industry, Anderson toyed with many ideas. It was not until Valentine’s Day when he bought a box of chocolates for his wife that he realized he wanted to go into the chocolate industry. He began training in Chicago and New Hampshire to learn the art of becoming a chocolatier. After perfecting the art, Anderson then took the leap of buying a building space and starting Confections with Convictions; A fair trade chocolate shop with a social purpose to those who have limited opportunities.

Overall impact

The biggest impact is the opportunity Anderson is giving each of these young adults to change their life and steer them in the right direction. “We are here to provide employment to those who have barriers to employment,” Anderson said. In addition to helping these young people, Anderson has received considerable attention as an exemplar and innovator in helping to raise awareness of the issue while operating a sustainable business practice.

Business benefit

By giving these young adults an opportunity and purpose, Anderson is living out his goal to help those that he employs to build the work experience and confidence each young adult needs to flourish in the labor force and continue to make greater strides in life.

Social and environmental benefit

As a social impact, Confections with Convictions provides those who lack in opportunity the chance needed to escape the troubles of their past and forge ahead to strive for the best in their futures. Confections with Convictions is a company that is committed to making a positive social impact to the community and maintaining a sustainable business to strive in the future.

Interview

Dale Anderson, Owner