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Inspiration September 16, 2016
After visiting a few micro-enterprise companies during a trip to South Africa, Piece by Piece founder Sophie Alpert was inspired to bring back a philanthropic model to her local communities. From this, Piece by Piece was born, striving to empower women “in underserved neighborhoods of Los Angeles.”
The organization began in 2007, with a mosaic workshop utilizing recycled materials that were helmed by talented professional artists, both visiting and volunteer. Today, some of the assisting positions provide transitional employment for homeless women on Skid Row. Aside from providing employment, this free workshop services low-income and formerly homeless individuals, aiding in the growth of self-confidence, earned income, marketable art-making skills and an improved quality of life.
Since its creation in 2007, Piece by Piece has notably expanded its reach by partnering with a number of local supporting organizations to continue serving the ongoing needs of the community. With the support of its sponsors and a stand-alone and online shop that sells participants’ artistic and public art creations, Piece by Piece is helping to beautify community spaces where participants live and work.
ENTITY caught up with Piece by Piece founder, Sophie Alpert, to talk about giving back, the metaphor of mosaics and how to start a non-profit:
ENTITY: You wrote an article for #LAtogether where you explain your motivation in starting this women’s organization. In the piece, you mention that being the daughter of a Holocaust survivor has taught you about giving back. Could you explain a bit further about what you were taught as a child in regards to being philanthropic within your community?
SOPHIE ALPERT: I’m one of eight. It was a lot to support eight children and get us through school. As one of the eldest of my siblings, I’ve always felt this huge responsibility to make sure everything and everyone is okay. I want to fix it all and I can’t. This frustration has fueled my desire to help others.
It’s not that my parents were not philanthropic, though. It was more that for me, I felt so blessed that I needed to give back.
My in-laws were also amazing people. My father-in-law was involved with the Hollenbeck Police Department and they helped build a community center in Long Beach. So, I also learned a lot from them and was very inspired.
ENTITY: As a mother of four, how do you encourage your kids to give back to the world?
SOPHIE ALPERT: They have had the privilege of seeing their grandparents give back in a huge way, so they don’t really know any different; it’s part of their way of life. My son was actually in high school when I started Piece by Piece. I had worked in the entertainment industry and in interior design, back and forth with different jobs, not working for a while and focused on being an involved parent in their schools. It was really time for me to do something and lead by example. Actually, one of the things that was the most rewarding was how impressed my kids were! There was no way I couldn’t involve them and they taught me a lot.
ENTITY: How did your South Africa trip inspire you? In the #LAtogether article, you explained that you visited agencies that helped HIV positive women by giving them free beads to make beaded dolls. These women then earned a portion of the doll’s proceeds. What part of that model pushed you towards Piece by Piece?
SOPHIE ALPERT: I just saw a glimpse of it – it sparked the idea. It seemed like a model I could replicate. I was already feeling the need to do something so this was that push. I saw something working and it seemed simple to me as an outsider but I had no idea what I was getting into.
ENTITY: How difficult was it to put your business idea into action?
SOPHIE ALPERT: I knew I wanted to do something and I think voicing an idea out loud to friends makes it real. Until I talked about it, I could hide from it. The minute I started talking about it, I felt like “Oh gosh, now that I’ve opened my mouth I have to follow through.” And then it was just one step after another. I kept telling myself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” I fail! I try something and fail – life goes on. So I was at peace with that.
Of course I didn’t want to fail, but I didn’t even know what success with Piece by Piece would look like. I thought we would be helping people earn supplementary money to buy groceries. I wasn’t thinking public art or commissions at that time, as I hadn’t set the bar that high yet. It was this snowballing effect where the more I immersed myself and got into it, the more I wanted and the higher I reached.
ENTITY: What would you tell young women if they wanted to start a non-profit business?
SOPHIE ALPERT: To do their homework, talk to as many people as they can, find a mentor if possible, try to research if there are people out there doing similar work and why they are successful or why they are not. Do not be afraid to ask for help. I wasn’t very good at that but I learned there’s just no way one person can do it all. You really learn and grow more from your mistakes and the challenges than from any success.
ENTITY: According to your 2015 review on your website, you have been really successful. Has there been any resistance to your efforts?
SOPHIE ALPERT: It’s a funny story. When I first started, I would call people and say “Hey can I do this workshop?” and they would surprisingly agree. I kept thinking “Wow, that’s so easy!” Everyone was saying yes to me.
And then of course, it made sense. Here I am bringing everything, all the materials, unloading my car, bringing the instructors – they’re getting a full supportive program for free! So there was no resistance. Now, we’ve learned to charge other organizations because we have to pay the instructors and for support and resources. But I think it’s a very welcomed program.
ENTITY: What kinds of marketable life skills are being taught by working with mosaics?
SOPHIE ALPERT: Tile and mosaic art skills are the primary things we are teaching. They’re also learning some business skills. When we have sales we try to involve them and teach them the importance of getting along in group settings as well as giving back. These people are so grateful. They’re the first ones who jump up and say “How can I help?” They are learning responsibility, how to put together an artist resume and bio about their work, the importance of showing up on time and what it’s like to have a job and feel valued and needed.
ENTITY: Do you see this business expanding into other forms of art or teaching other types of skills?
SOPHIE ALPERT: We’ve had jewelry people come in. The model can be applied to anything – you bring the materials and teach skills. It’s just hard because the non-profit world is tough. I don’t know what the future holds; we were growing so rapidly and I’ve been asked several times to start a Piece by Piece program in another city. But it takes so much support. You need a lot to get this going. The model can definitely be applied to any kind of art though.
ENTITY: Did mosaics ever inspire you to put the pieces of your life back together or get you through a personal challenge?
SOPHIE ALPERT: In a metaphorical way, yes. I was at a point in my life where I felt the need to do something more. I wasn’t content to not work. I had to help. I felt too blessed, especially when I would drive down through downtown LA. I’ve always been very familiar with downtown LA. For many years growing up, my father had clothing stores downtown. I brought people here to see the workshops. Many had never been to these parts of Los Angeles and didn’t know the conditions. So, metaphorically [the mosaics] gave me an avenue, a tool. It could have been jewelry or something else, but I needed to do it here, in this community.
ENTITY: Do you have any memorable stories of women on the streets whose lives were turned around due to mosaic art classes?
SOPHIE ALPERT: One formerly homeless mother of four created some amazing pieces and earned $1,300 at our first show. She was able to use that money towards purchasing a used car. With her newfound confidence and mobility, she then got a job.
There was another woman with two daughters and a husband. She became pretty skilled, particularly in doing mosaics with sea shells. We had a visiting artist come whose specialty was making things out of shells. They connected really well and she offered her a job!
Stories like these are fueled under Sophie Alpert’s generosity and ambition. Little by little, day by day, she pieces together communities in need.
