Meet Our Business Training Program Participants (Winter 2021 Cohort)
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021 The Welcoming Center hosts a graduation ceremony for the latest cohort of our Business Training Program, consisting of 18 participants!
This program is is a 12-week classroom-based and business coaching term that helps build entrepreneurial skills and simultaneously assists participants in creating a road map to opening their businesses.
Pictured: Participants and staff at The Welcoming Center’s Christmas Village booth.
Our current cohort of participants is unusually special as an all-female, all artisan group. They are not only entrepreneurs in their respective markets, but also models of strength and determination to their families and young women within immigrant communities.
By the end of the training program, each participant creates a viable business plan, and will have access to partner organizations that can deliver additional, on-going support around marketing and promotion, finance, and wellness, among others.
We also integrated emotional wellness into the program, where we share and discuss emotional wellness tips and connect our participants to partner organizations that may help address the challenges faced on a day-to-day basis.
Pictured: Participants and staff at a training session.
We asked our participants: How has the Business Training Program helped you? Read some of their responses below.
Marielys Carreno
WAMMA
“Me ha ayudado a la planificacion para la comercializacion de mis productos de una manera mas optima.”
“It has helped me to plan for the marketing of my products in a more optimal way.”
Olivia
“Knowledge and development for our business. Thanks.”
“El programa de emprendimiento me ha ayudado en mi seguridad personal y crecimiento comercial!”
“The entrepreneurship program has helped me in my self confidence and business growth!”
“El programa de emprendimiento me ensenando a dejar mis dudas, miedos y me esta ayudando a pasar mis obstaculos que habia y que si se puede realizar los suenos.”
“The entrepreneurship program is teaching me to leave my doubts, fears (behind) and is helping me to overcome obstacles that were there and that dreams can come true.”
Tania Greene
Pieces de Mi Alma
“El programa de emprendimiento de el Welcoming Center me ha ayudado a planearon mas claridad los pasos esenciales para manejar un negocio. Me ha dado la informacion y confianza que necesito para seguir creciendo mi negocio.”
“The Entrepreneurship Program at The Welcoming Center has helped me to more clearly plan the essential steps for running a business. It has given me the information and confidence that I need to continue growing my business.”
Reyna Guadalupe Navarro
“The entrepreneurship program of The Welcoming Center personally helped me to train as an entrepreneur, to clarify my doubts, in the future a successful businesswoman (who) will be a good investor to get to where I have be. Thanks to them I have built a great structure to reach my goals and fulfill my dreams.”
Cecilia
Bellas por Siempre
“It has helped me in my personal development and in my entrepreneurship.”
Minerva Rodriguez
“El programa de emprendimiento me ha ayudado que puedo cimplir con mis metas si me lo propongo y se a donde acudir si necesito ayuda. El Welcoming Center y Mexta Tamales seguiran adelante gracias a Nicole y Alvaro por su ayuda.”
“The entrepreneurship program has helped me (realize) that I can fulfill my goals if I set my mind to it and I know where to turn if I need help. The Welcoming Center and Mexta Tamales will (continue to work together) thanks to Nicole and Alvaro for their help.”
Patricia Gonzalez
Basket and Gift Shop
“El programa del Welcoming Center me ha ensenado a creer que mis ideas son posibles y a creer en mi.”
“The Welcoming Center program has taught me to believe that my ideas are possible and to believe in myself.”
Chelvy Dominguez
“El participe del programa de emprendimiento en Welcoming Center me ha ayudado pulir ciertas cosas que ya sabia pero no sabia como explicarlas. Como tambien he aprendido como crear un plan de negocios y que es lo que conlleva a tener un negocio prospero.”
“Participating in the entrepreneurship program at The Welcoming Center has helped me clarify certain things that I already knew, but did not know how to explain. I have also learned how to create a business plan and what it takes to have a successful business.”
Gloria Canchola
“El programa de Welcoming Center me ha dado la oportunidad de conocerme mas a este grupo de nuevas emprendedoras y descubrirme a mi misma para poder poner a trabajar toda la capacitacion que ustedes nos han proveido para ser mujeres exitosas. Muchas gracias :)”
“The Welcoming Center program has given me the opportunity to get to know this group of new entrepreneurs better and to discover myself to put to work all the training that you have provided us to be successful women. Thank you :)”
Yolidavey Gonzalez
“En el programa de emprendimiento he aprendido que para tener una vision mas clara de lo que quiero y necesito para un negocio exitoso primero tengo que creer en mi y en mis capacidades, ideas y sobretodo en mis suenos.”
“In the entrepreneurship program I have learned that to have a clearer vision of what I want and need for (creating) a successful business, I first have to believe in myself and in my abilities, ideas and above all in my dreams.”
Victoria Martinez
“En el programa de Welcoming Center me ha ensenado que los sueno se hacen realidad y que con esfuerzos, dedicacion y estudio se puede lograr ser duena de un negocio propsero y duradero.”
“The Welcoming Center program has taught me that dreams come true and that with work, dedication and study, it is possible to be the owner of a prosperous and long-lasting business.”
Veronica Perez
Una Pizca de Amor
“En el programa de Welcoming Center me ha ayudado en varios aspectos, me ha dado las herramientas para tener un negocio prospero y me ha planteado vario aspectos que yo desconocia. Gracias por todo el apoyo.”
“The Welcoming Center program has helped me in various aspect. It has given me the tools to have a successful business and he has raised several aspects that I was unaware of. Thanks for all the support.”
Immigrant entrepreneurs bring years of knowledge, skills, and global experience with them. If you wish to connect with an entrepreneur or partner with The Welcoming Center to provide quality, low to no-cost mental and emotional wellness support programming to our participants, please contact us.
