'Holmes Family Effect' transforms Surrey, B.C. workspace for Solid State youth empowerment co-op

Mike Holmes and his kids Mike Jr. and Sherry have embarked on a new journey to help people making a difference in their communities. With their new show, Holmes Family Effect (Sundays at 8pET on CTV), the family of contractors is working with a variety of initiatives doing good in their communities to transform their rundown and worn out workspaces so they can continue to create positive change. 

One of the places that the Holmes family has helped renovate is Solid State Community Industries in Surrey, B.C. Solid State is a resource space for marginalized youth and helps provide a foundation to launch their own businesses or sell their own products while working with mentors to hone their skills and get their businesses off the ground.

Vanessa Fajemisin nominated Solid State because she said it helped her grow the skills she has today, and she now works there as a mentor. There are currently five cohorts working out of Solid State, including Queens of Pop, which makes popcorn and snacks; Open City Events, an event planning cooperative; and the Ethós Lab, a tech-infused youth space.

Vanessa sat down with etalk’s Tyrone to discuss everything that Solid State has to offer and the major makeover it received from Holmes Family Effect.

Vanessa said that Solid State helps youth build their own enterprises. “The goal really is that we’re focused on trying to change narratives for racialized and migrant youth, especially where the space is in Surrey, BC. There’s a lot of gang and violence narrative that just isn’t true and doesn’t sit right with us,” she explained. “Our goal is to really just support these youth through insight, direction and resources so they can essentially do whatever they want to do, and we just help them get there.”

“I couldn’t believe it, honestly," Vanessa said of the moment she found out they were chosen. "It didn’t feel real for so long. I feel like it wasn’t even until I met the Holmes family that I was like this is actually happening. Honestly, it’s so special because being there all the time, working there, I really see how much these youth deserve this and how much they can do when they’re given the right resources and right support,” Vanessa shared. 

She added that receiving that support from the Holmes family and have them come to their space and get to know them made the experience “that much more special.” She said that after seeing them on TV all the time, she was “a little bit nervous” to meet them.

“They were so down to earth. They were so chill. Mike Holmes Jr. and I bonded over so many TV shows that we watch. Sherry and I, you know, the girl talk, that bond was there. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much Mike and I had a similar sense in humour,” Vanessa said.

Of course, the pandemic played a part in filming the show and working on the space. “It was totally weird, right as most of the world was [locking down], essentially we just had to halt all production. Went a while without seeing the Holmes family and the rest of the crew,” Vanessa shared. Once the Canadian government and the province set the industry standards, they were able to get back to work by the summer.  

Vanessa said she was surprised to see what a “cool dad” Mike is during her time working alongside the Holmes family. “The little quips and repour that he has with the kids or with his kids reminded me so much of myself and my family talking to my dad. I found that to be really funny, and I was pleasantly surprised,” she added.

After watching the Solid State episode of Holmes Family Effect, Vanessa hopes that the audience sees that “there’s a lot of stigma on migrant youth and racialized youth.”

She continued, “Not just in America, not just in other places but in Canada as well. I just hope that the audience gets a chance to see what these kinds of communities can do when they’re properly supported. Especially with it being Black History Month as well, we’re highlighting our Black cohort [Daily Dose of Blackness] that I work with primarily as their mentor. We’re putting on this national contest for Black History Month, and I hope that people get a chance to check it out and look at all of our cohorts in general.”

Vanessa added that Solid State is really just trying to do right by people who “are often stigmatized and don’t always receive the support that they need.”

Watch new episodes of Holmes Family Effect Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

BEFORE YOU GO: Mike Holmes Jr. shares his predictions for 2021's home renovation trends

[video_embed id='2114992']BEFORE YOU GO: Mike Holmes Jr. shares his predictions for 2021's home renovation trends[/video_embed]