NETA Security Equipment Grant Program

As part of NETA’s commitment to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion, and to positively impact communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs through high rates of arrest and incarceration, we launched our 2020 Security Equipment Grant Program.

This program creates a fund to be used to provide financial support of up to $25,000 annually for the purposes of acquiring compliant and reliable physical security plans and equipment to certified Economic Empowerment and Social Equity Program Participants.

Candid Conversation on Cannabis in Our Community

NETA’s own Kim Napoli participated in this expert panel designed to educate and inform communities of color on participation and opportunity in the growing cannabis industry.

C3RN, Community First, NETA initiates diversity scholarship

“We are grateful for her leadership and support in starting the diversity scholarship program for students and those from disadvantaged communities to come to the event for free in Massachusetts with NETA and SSDP!” – C3RN

NETA sponsored the Equity and Opportunity Job Fair

The Commonwealth Dispensary Association, Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, Equitable Opportunities Now, Cannabis Business Association, and ELEVATE NE were pleased to collaborate and co-host a special event connecting prospective employees to Massachusetts’ fastest growing sector.

NETA joins panelists for Seeing Green: Massachusett’s Experience with Regulated Marijuana Two Years In

This was the second year the event has occurred. It is moderated by Cannabis Control Commissioner Britte McBride. Kim Napoli provided an educational presentation on social equity programs and requirements for operators in Massachusetts.

NETA's Security Equipment Grant Winners

NETA is proud to have selected the winners of our first Security Equipment Grant Application. Jensen and Jackson Mejia, two twin brothers from Worcester, have qualified for the state’s social equity program. They plan to operate an adult use delivery license with a warehouse based in Uxbridge, MA. Additionally, Jensen and Jackson’s 28-year-old brother, Ardwin, will be joining the team when he returns from serving abroad for the U.S. Marines. “We won’t become rich, because we want to spread around the money to employees in the community, but this will be our entrance into the industry, to grow within it.”

Kim Napoli, Director of corporate social responsibility and community affairs at NETA, and creator of the grant said choosing the Mejia brothers as the recipient was an obvious choice, based on their drive, and the brothers are going after a delivery license is a “bonus.”

“We’re doing this because we have the means to do so, and to see the folks coming from disproportionately impacted communities succeed, folks over-policed, targeted by the war on drugs. This is an opportunity to make a positive impact,” said Napoli.

CultivatED

NETA is a founding and participating member of CultivatED, the First in the Nation Jails to Jobs Program for the Cannabis Industry. This innovative public-private partnership provides fellows with a robust co-operative education program in the cannabis industry, free legal services, workforce preparedness training, and cannabis externships with livable wages and benefits.

NETA partners with C3RN for the first-ever social equity training program

The Cannabis Community Care and Research Network (official social equity program vendor) held the first-ever in-dispensary skills training for social equity program participants earlier this month at NETA Brookline.

NETA Sponsored the State House News Service’s Marijuana Policy Forum

Kim Napoli served as a panelist in this important discussion.

NETA weighs in on WGBH's Basic Black to discuss "Marijuana Industry in Massachusetts and how People of Color fit in."

Basic Black explores how does people of color fit into Massachusetts’ emerging cannabis industry. Tito Jackson, Sieh Samura, Kobie Evans and Kim Napoli joins the panel.

MUSE Foundation

The MUSE Foundation provides disabled adults the opportunity to have flexible, individualized music instruction, as the scaffolding for significant social interaction and community-building for this underserved population. NETA provides funding for scholarships to aid in annual MUSE program attendance for two adults.

Black Market

Black Market serves as Boston’s premiere space for underserved Makers, Artisans + Entrepreneurs who desire a shared, cooperative-style retail environment to build their business and take their revenue stream to new levels. Located in Dudley Square in Roxbury, Black Market celebrates diversity in many categories including: gender, age, educational attainment, religion, race, ethnicity and income. NETA has partnered with Black Market in the form of a sponsorship for a 6ft table for the 2019 Black Market Season. Additionally, NETA intends to host at least one job fair at the Black Market retail location.

Cannabis Community Care and Research Network

C3RN is a network of dedicated academics, cannabis industry, healthcare providers, consumers, and patients who aim to advance the science and research around medical and adult use cannabis. NETA has joined C3RN as a Silver Member, in addition to being a founding business partner in C3RN’s diversity scholarships which offer free event attendance to residents of disproportionately impacted communities.