Shalisa L. Wall – Shalisa’s Sisters

/in /by

Shalisa’s Sisters is a supportive community for women and children who have triumphed over domestic violence, initiated by Shalisa L. Wall. Stemming from her journey of recovery after experiencing domestic abuse, Shalisa joined the Prestamos CDFI Social Enterprise program and began receiving business advising to assist with her Business. She aimed to create a safe space for survivors to connect, share experiences, and rebuild their lives. Through this initiative, she aims to provide a haven where individuals can engage in recreational activities, networking, resource-sharing, and building friendships. Shalisa’s Sisters extends its services to include educational resources, support groups, and social events for family, friends, and community members impacted by domestic violence.

As the Founder & CEO, Shalisa Wall passionately advocates for domestic violence survivors, leveraging her own experiences from the Prestamos CDFI program to support others on their healing journey. She emphasizes empowerment, financial independence, and the significance of safe, supportive environments for women and children. Through social media and community engagement, Shalisa raises awareness about domestic violence while fostering resilience and camaraderie among survivors within the Sisterhood of Survivors at Shalisa’s Sisters.

Shaniqua Hopkins – 7th Dream Helping Hearts

/in , /by

The strong life experiences that Shaniqua Hopkins has, led her to develop a project to support young girls who have lived in foster care homes and are pregnant. This gave rise to 7th Dream Helping Hearts, a non-profit organization located in Laveen, AZ. 

Teenage Pregnancy 

Shaniqua lived in foster care from the age of 8 months until she was 15 years old. After escaping, getting into trouble, and living on the streets, she became pregnant at the age of 15. It was her enrollment in a school for teenage mothers that changed her life. 

501c3 

In September 2022, 7th Dream Helping Hearts officially started as a non-profit organization that provides resources and products to pregnant teenage girls. They offer free services such as food, diapers, clothing, mentorship, and support groups. 

Life-Changing Events 

Over the past two years, they have helped dozens of individuals through various community activities, such as backpack giveaways, assistance in finding housing, and their flagship program, “Mom and Me,” where they promote visits to museums and parks to strengthen the bond between mothers and children and enhance the psychosocial development of minors. 

Partnerships and Volunteering 

Currently, the organization relies solely on volunteers and partnerships with other non-profit organizations. Their goal is to obtain funds through donations to help a greater number of girls who have lived or are living in temporary foster care and are going through pregnancy. 

Relationship with Prestamos CDFI 

7th Dream Helping Hearts has received support in business mentoring and administrative counseling, including courses, marketing strategies, networking with other organizations, and assistance with a classroom to provide training for the girls. 

Tina Santos – Luz de Luna Reception Hall

/in , /by

Tina’s journey began when she first arrived in the United States as an immigrant from Mexico. With no knowledge of English, no formal immigration status, and no friends or family to rely on, she was faced with the daunting challenge of adapting to a new culture and way of life. Years rolled by, and Tina’s journey took her from the hotel’s cleaning staff to the event department, where she honed her skills in the art of hospitality.

Her story took a significant turn during the early months of the 2020 pandemic when she lost her job. With newfound free time, Tina decided to seize the opportunity to work on her long-cherished dream of starting her own business. Tina connected with organizations like Prestamos WBC, where she met the Program Director, Laura Suarez. There, she spoke with Gabriel Gasca about the Maricopa County 1% loan program and how it could be a game-changer for her.

Through Prestamos WBC, Tina embarked on the DreamBuilder Academy course, guided by the experienced instructor Manny Lucero. This was the pivotal moment in her entrepreneurial journey when she created a solid business plan, a crucial step towards her dream. With the DreamBuilder Academy course and Manny Lucero’s invaluable support, Tina was well-equipped to successfully apply and obtain the Maricopa County 1% loan.

Reflecting on her journey, Tina said, “The Maricopa County loan was the best thing that could have happened to me. It allowed me to sign a three-year commercial contract and buy equipment. My process to receive the Maricopa County 1% loan was relatively easy, and behind this was an entire team dedicated to completing each step. I am entirely grateful for Prestamos.”

As a BIPOC person and immigrant, she had to work doubly hard to learn English and secure her legal residency status. Once she achieved these milestones, her character and determination became her driving force.

Throughout the challenges she faced during the pandemic, Prestamos not only supported her professionally but also personally. She is now determined to create job opportunities in her community, offer people the resources they need to start their own businesses, and give back in a way that embodies her gratitude. “I want to give back the help I received with my business,” she said, highlighting her commitment to uplifting others.”

Cristina Sanchez – Corn El Compadre

/in , /by

A Mexican family tradition crossed the border and has become a successful business selling corn and Chihuahua-style esquites. Cristina Sanchez and her husband began to sell corn cocktails, as they call them, among acquaintances and friends, but they did not imagine that It would lead them to create their own company.

Corn “El Compadre” is a business that emerged a year ago to meet the demand for esquites at events and birthdays. It has been such a success that a couple of months ago they had to formally register the business.

The success of the esquites

Esquites are a Mexican snack that consists of corn grains prepared with cream, cheese, chile, and lime. It is sold in all the states of Mexico and Cristina Sánchez makes them with her husband’s family recipe. The esquites are usually consumed in public places like parks and churches, but the Sanchez family prepares them to take to private parties in Phoenix.

Next challenge

For Corn “El Compadre” it’s next step is to open its own place so that the public who wants to consume esquites in the Phoenix area does not have to wait for a party or public event. At this moment they are working on the search for a place and developing the business plan.

The impact of the WBC

Cristina Sanchez learned about the Women’s Business Center (WBC) through the Mexican Consulate. She enrolled in the Dream Builder program and later in the business mentoring group. “I’ve loved it, they make you see things you don’t know, a lot of support and learning, I feel more prepared than before,” said this entrepreneur on her experience with Prestamos CDFI.

The support of Prestamos CDFI 

Mrs. Sánchez says she is very grateful for all the services and information she received through the various small business support programs from Prestamos CDFI. They helped her develop a business plan and register her LLC at no cost to her. She learned to plan her day-to-day, manage her emotions and balance her work and family time. She is already considering applying for a business loan.

Dr. Jayashri Sarkar – ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence

/in /by

Dr. Jayashri Sarkar is an immigrant from India. She came to USA to pursue her graduate degree. She has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She is an inventor specializing in nanotechnology. She has developed 2 patents her inventions. After the death of her parents, she started the ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence, in 2022, to help people overcome emotional challenges through the different transitions in life and profession.

Grief and pain

Doctor Sarkar is an energetic and positive human being. But the death of her parents led her to feel hopeless, with mixed feelings and in a place where she did not want to be. It was then that she asked herself, what do I want to do? How do I want to live my life? That is when she started her initiative.

The daily routine

Jay Sarkar developed a tool of 5 activities that she does daily: pray, read, exercise, express emotions and be honest with her feelings. This led her to create her 12-week mentorship program. She says that “in a way, the industry chose me to start this initiative”. She admires the strength of her parents and how they lived. This inspires her daily to follow in their footsteps to share the education they gave her with the people around her. Her life is dedicated to educating people to grow their self-worth and confidence.

Main challenges

The biggest challenge for Dr. Sarkar is working in a new industry while also grieving the loss of her parents. Also, she believes it is a relatively challenging journey to market services rather than products. For her, her business is developing resilience and developing “personal engineering”. In her scientific career, she worked with the strength of materials to develop technologies, and now she works with people to develop their personal strengths to help them live to their fullest.

Relation with CPLC

Dr. Sarkar was introduced to the Prestamos Women’s Business Center by the Program Manager of Prestamos WBC – Laura Suarez. They met at a women’s business summit held by BBB. Dr. Sarkar participated in the Dream Builder program to develop her business plan. In the future, the ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence will offer its services to women entrepreneurs, business owners, college students, and the military in transition. She also is planning to hire 2 part-time employees.

Liz Cervantes – High-End Reclaimed

/in /by

We’ve all heard stories of people turning their hobby into a profitable business, this is precisely what happened to Liz Cervantes in 2022 with her furniture refinishing business, High-End Reclaimed.

Recognition of her work

After receiving very good compliments for renovating some furniture for her own house, she began to do her first jobs to sell through social media posting photos of her finished pieces. Now she visits several places in search of furniture that can be renovated, because she made it very clear that not every piece of furniture can go through the renovating process, they must be made of wood or metal.

All her “hats”

Liz Cervantes still works full-time in a banking institution, at the same time she is starting this business in her own garage and she is the mother of two teenagers, that is why her biggest challenge is to have enough time to fulfill all her responsibilities and grow her business. Her greatest motivation is to work with her own hands and see the finished work, which can be indoor furniture in wood or outdoor furniture in metal.

Next steps

Mrs. Cervantes plans to find a space or warehouse to do the renovation work and even said that she is planning to have her own place to sell her furniture. At this time, she is working with Prestamos CDFI and the Women’s Business Center (WBC) to improve her social media presence and create her own website. She also participates in a mentoring program for women entrepreneurs and already finished the Dream Builder Program to develop her business plan.

ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence

/in /by
Jayashri Sarkar

Jayashri Sarkar has a Ph.D. in chemistry and specializes in nanotechnology, she even has her own patents for some inventions, however, after the death of her parents, she started an emotional mentoring business in 2022, ImagiNexGen Institute of Excellence.

Dr. Sarkar used to be a very energetic and positive woman, but the death of her parents led her to feel hopeless, with mixed feelings, and in a place where she did not want to be, it was then that she asked herself, what do you want to do? Then she started this business project. Jay Sarkar developed a tool of 5 activities that she does daily: pray, read, exercise, express emotions and be honest with her feelings. This led her to create her 8-week Business Growth Mentorship Program in collaboration with the Prestamos Women’s Business Center, “this industry chose me to start this business” she said.

The Business Growth Mentorship Program (BGMP) was created after hearing hundreds of women entrepreneurs’ stories and realizing that many faced similar challenges; limited knowledge, lack of confidence, and fear of failure. These women needed support which led Dr. Sarkar to research what could be the cause. Her research found that many of these challenges were a result of inadequate entrepreneurial education. Women entrepreneurs have unique needs and they need to be addressed properly to succeed.

The program was designed to directly address these issues. It helps women cultivate existing skills and further expand the core competencies necessary to make their businesses successful. Participants develop the right mindset to make decisive, quality business decisions that then impacts our economy and our world. BGMP places an emphasis on helping participants with managing stress, grow confidence and form a work-life balance. This is done by combining education, an online support system, workshops, and proprietary tools. Graduates of the program can expect to gain: clarity in their business, confidence in themselves as entrepreneurs, work-life harmony, happiness & purposefulness about their business, and commitment to their goals.

After graduating from the BGMP, women can continue to expect support. Participants will receive it through the BGMP Support Network. It engages graduates by connecting them with other ambitious women and providing a safe space. They can collaborate with one another on finding solutions to problems, such as accessing funding. There will be monthly working sessions that help them to move forward and capitalize on what they have learned through the BGMP program. As more women finish the program and accomplish their goals, more women can then become speakers at BGMP events and become mentors to new cohorts.

For those interested in the next cohort of the class, the Business Growth Mentorship Program will be available twice a year–in the fall and spring. If you or anyone you know is interested in participating in the program, kindly fill out the BGMP Interest form: https://forms.gle/WEPPev7LQVJqg6js8. Selection for interviews will start in the late 2023 summer.

Hear what the first cohort of women entrepreneurs had to say about the program:

“I was able to bring just an idea closer to reality.”

“I’m able to make decisive/actionable plans and execute.”

“It helped a lot to focus my mindset and to only focus on 3 priorities for my business but as I moved forward with what I thought was necessary to begin turns out I needed other things to focus on first before I could complete what I thought I needed to do.”