Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Haskins.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For about 10 years, my wife and I lived in Tulsa, where we both worked in education. She was a principal and I was the program director of the Tulsa Debate League, which teaches speech and debate in Title I schools. Later I moved into school operations, which is everything involved in running a school except for academics and behavior. So I was in charge of enrollment, transportation, nutrition, procurement, etc.
We decided to move back to Jacksonville (I’m from here and my wife grew up here) to be closer to family as we started our own family. (We recently had twin girls!) As we were house hunting in Springfield, the Executive Director role at Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) opened, and I applied. Moving and starting a new job at the same time is a whirlwind, but we are so lucky to have found a home in Springfield and I’m very fortunate to be in a position where I get to help improve the place that I live every single day.
A lot of people are confused by what SPAR does. We are not an HOA, although there is some similarity there. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We work to preserve the historic fabric of our neighborhood. We have over 1,800 historic homes and properties that are protected by law, and we work closely with the City of Jacksonville to ensure the homes are preserved. Springfield is also an area that has had economic difficulties over the decades. We work to revitalize the neighborhood by running a beautification program, a small business association to support economic investment, and we work closely with local government agencies to support adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing population. Last but not least, we build community. We host dozens of events each year. Some are large arts and culture events and attract attention across the city and state, like Jacksonville PorchFest, which features over 20 live musical performances and attracts 15,000-20,000 people each year. But most are smaller, public forum style events intended for residents of Springfield, where we can gather to discuss issues facing our community and how we can work together to solve them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My old boss used to say that the question is not WHERE can you do the most good, it’s where can YOU do the most good. Most nonprofit leaders want to do good and help their communities, and there are many, many needs across many, many fields, from healthcare to education to housing to civil rights. All of those areas and more need good, qualified people working to make the world a better place.
In my case, I had hoped to find out WHERE I could do the most good. Which area needed the most help, and how could I help? It’s similar to the fear of missing out – most of us want to put our time and energy and talents to the best possible use and so we don’t want to miss out on the key area where we can help. But the point of my old boss’s saying is that we each bring our own unique skills and talents, and so we have to ask ourselves not only WHERE we are needed, but what are we uniquely qualified or positioned to do.
Finding the right professional fit in the right area of work that also matches what I can uniquely bring to the table is a constant question in the back of my mind, and I work hard to make sure I’m keeping both in mind.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a three part mission: (1) preservation, (2) revitalization, and (3) community.
(1) We have over 1,800 historic homes and properties in Springfield that are legally protected. We work closely with the City of Jacksonville to ensure those properties are properly maintained and preserved. We provide educational workshops on the unique aspects of historic home ownership. And we advocate for best practices in preservation, advising the City on ways to best manage and balance historic protections and private property rights.
(2) Springfield has had economic ups and downs over the decades, including a long period of divestment starting in the 60s and going through the 90s, similar to many other Urban Core neighborhoods in Jacksonville and urban areas generally in the United States. When we were founded in the 70s, our revitalization work focused on rehabilitating dilapidated homes and preventing their neglect and demolition. That work has been very successful, and while we still work hard to ensure the residential properties are protected, we have turned our attention to revitalizing our commercial corridors. We have over 24 blocks of commercial space in Springfield, much of it vacant. We operate a beautification team that removes litter and graffiti, landscapes public right of ways, and installs small-scare infrastructure (trash cans, bike racks, gardens, trees, public art, etc.) to beautify the neighborhood. We also run the small business association for the neighborhood, which provides technical assistance and a research-based peer-to-peer mentoring program for our small business community. Finally, we support infrastructure investment in Springfield, including road repaving, park improvements, water and sewer updates, etc.
(3) We build community through events. Our largest event is Jacksonville PorchFest, a music festival with 20+ live musical performances where the artists play on the front porches of the historic homes in Springfield. We host dozens of other events as well. Many of our events feature live outdoor music to encourage people to visit and explore the neighborhood and patronize local businesses. We also host a variety of committee and public forum style events where residents can gather to address concerns and issues they have and we can work together to find solutions. These events typically focus on beautifying the neighborhood, addressing housing needs, addressing small business needs, crime and safety concerns, etc.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I tend to prefer to have 1-2 thought partners. This person is someone who is familiar with my work and who I talk to on a regular, usually daily basis. That person has varied for me at different jobs. Sometimes it is my boss, sometimes a person higher up in the company but who can advise me without directly supervising me. Sometimes it is a peer or even a person who reports to me. It’s less about the hierarchy than about someone whose advice I trust and respect.
I have done leadership programs and other networking events, and I find them very helpful for identifying people at other companies or in other professional fields that I can turn to when I need advice on a specific area that overlaps with their work. But for the most part, my thought partners have always been someone I’ve worked closely with day-to-day in the same organization.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://sparcouncil.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparjax
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparjax
