In a compelling feature by The Athens News, Jennifer Seifert and Jennifer L’Heureux share how their partnership gave rise to New Leaf Marketplace—a bold social enterprise model rooted in healing, empowerment, and economic justice.

The vision behind New Leaf was shaped by a simple but powerful realization: employment challenges and trauma recovery are deeply interconnected. Seifert, seeking a business framework to complement strategic prevention, partnered with L’Heureux—whose own workforce challenges as a small business owner inspired her to seek community-based solutions.

New Leaf Marketplace combines living-wage employment, free housing, and supportive services like transportation and mental health care—all within a trauma-informed structure. This sustainable and replicable model addresses multiple social determinants of health, including housing, income, and social connection.

The initiative has earned widespread community support and was recognized with Rural Action’s Sustainability Award for its equity-centered approach and partnership-driven foundation.