Meet Robert Westheimer of Newspring in Spring Branch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Westheimer.

Robert, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Newspring was formed in 2006 and began operations in 2007. The organization grew out of a church-planting activity focused on the Spring Branch area of Houston (population 150,000). Research on the area revealed a fascinating mix of affluence and poverty, all in proximity. It is possible to drive by new $1M homes and find day laborers waiting on nearby street corners. Turnover in the schools is high (has approached 40% in some years).

Those of us in the church-planting operation knew that we’d face significant challenges, as so many residents were on the move, seeking better housing, employment, etc. We found food pantries and resale shops catering to the low-income residents.

In response, we determined to focus on entrepreneurship, opening doors of opportunity for residents, especially youth, willing to learn and work hard to escape poverty. Hence Newspring was born as a faith-based (Christian) not-for-profit aimed at turning youth and other residents into entrepreneurs of themselves.

Now, ten years later, Newspring has successfully opened doors of opportunity for artistically talented students in the area’s schools. We aim these students at careers in the visual arts, e.g. painting, graphic design, photography, interior design, architecture and more. Newspring professional artists provide mentoring and we operate five area studios where students come after school to learn more. Student art sales have produced over $150,000 in much-needed income (and encouragement) for talented low-income students (all proceeds to the students). Over 25 of our graduates are in or have completed college, thanks to Newspring scholarships.

Newspring also operates a Business Plan Competition in partnership with HCC’s Spring Branch campus. This eleven-week program has seen over 25 new businesses start over its ten-year history, with over $250,000 in seed capital to the winners. Newspring provides training and mentoring to competition participants and assists with further development at the completion of the competition.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s never a smooth road. The low-income population in Spring Branch is made up of mostly immigrant families.

Many of our students belong to the first generation born in the US. Accordingly, they lack the mentoring and awareness of opportunity that most of us have taken for granted. They live in a small world.

In addition, parents are often wary of charitable organizations like ours, and generally maintain an attitude of “keep your head down and don’t make any waves.” Thus, gaining their trust was our first and greatest challenge. Help from SBISD was vital. In addition, most parents do not see the opportunities for their children beyond their own limited view of low-wage employment. They tend to see their children following in their own footsteps on a path to minimum wage jobs with little future. It’s all they know.

We have worked hard to open both students and parents alike to the broadest view possible of the Houston economy and culture, encouraging them to aim high for their educational and career choices. After ten years, we have achieved significant momentum, but it continues to challenge us.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Newspring – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Everything we do has an economic component. Many will see art as a hobby or as an enjoyable pastime. At Newspring, we see it as so much more. We see artistic talent as a passport to a future that employs all of the abilities that a student possesses.

Likewise, our Business Plan Competition could be seen as a purely educational program aimed at teaching the process of business planning. We see it as so much more, as a serious path to economic success for those who are willing to work at it. We teach how to think as a business person.

We are proudest of the relational nature of everything we do. We work with our art students beginning at age eight through college. We get to know them at a very personal level. Likewise, we work closely with the contestants in our business plan competition, providing intensive mentoring long after the competition ends. The personal nature of such relationships is extremely satisfying to our volunteers.

And for many, the relational nature of Newspring fits extremely well with the faith-based foundations of the organization.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Lots of opportunities. We see the formation of arts-related businesses for Newspring Visual Arts. And our plan is to expand the business mentoring program to go further beyond the end of the Business Plan Competition. Ultimately, we hope to build a business network of entrepreneurs in Spring Branch.

Contact Info:

• Address: 8945 Long Point suite 100
  Houston, Tx 77055
• Website: www.newspringcenter.org
• Phone: 713-590-0100
• Email: rwestheimer1@comcast.net

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