Support beyond Entrepreneurship

Women Palante is continue working with a holisitic approach. We started with our special edition incubator: Gourmetpreneurs.

Gourmetpreneur is our business incubator for any latina women who wants to create a business in food or drink. This program has a holistic curriculum to learn also how to establish healthy eating habits and wellness for themselves and their families. The students receive cooking and nutrition classes. Gourmetprenurs has been running for several years now. This is the third edition of the program. After the pandemic and the virtuality, we were able to return to face-to-face classes and we had the space provided by Cardozo Education Campus in D.C., which was adequate and useful because of its location, so that the mothers could attend the cooking and nutrition classes in person and business classes was online.

Registration process was hold in Cardozo Education Campus but also in the schools around such us: Harriet Tubman Elementary School D.C and Columbia Heights Educational Campus. It was a total of 49 Latinas registered and 8 graduated. Each class was 5 to 10 participants[1]. From registered to students, we registered a conversion of 10.6%. From students to graduates, we got an 80% conversion.

Women Palante piloted a new wellness curriculum and nutrition classes developed for a nutritionist from University of Maryland. LEDC implemented a new curriculum too.

Women Palante received support from:

• Latino Economic Development Corporation: lead the business classes and food safety certification
• Communities in the School: supported the dissemination of the program
• Munchen Haus: provided the sponsorship of $500 dollars for the pitch Award.
• Cardozo Education Campus: provided the location and specifically a cooking room with individual kitchen for the students.

Accomplishments for this Reporting Period:

• Of the 8 graduates, 4 graduated continue with us working in their enterprises and receiving the services of Women Palante
• 3 of the graduates are currently receiving advice with a coach.
• 1 student-led community spaces during the business incubator.
• More than 5000 dollars in prizes were awarded[1]
• 33% of the participants (Layla and Gladys) will continue to work on their projects and food business operations immediately and participate in the discussions by sharing their recent experiences.
• Women Palante receive 3 spots to participate in LEDC's Food Initiative program.

- LEDC's Food Initiative program: It is an accelerator program for food business in D.C. The students have the opportunity to get all the certifications and six months of rent for an industrial kitchen.

- LEDC's Food Initiative program which demonstrates the commitment to move forward with entrepreneurship actively.

• 16% of the participants (Blanca) could move forward within the next 3-6 months if they obtain funding for their concept.
• 33% of participants (Teofila, Dora) indicated 6-9 months as a timeline for launching their food business.
• 16% of the participants did not share their timeline or plans for re-launching their food business.
• One student was selected as a winner for the pitch competition[2] for her innovation of the dish, presentation and great pitch: Samira from Dominican Republic and now she bought food materials for her business.
• One student is receiving therapy service with a Psychology.

Based on the opportunity to have continuity with the LEDC Accelerator program. Women Palante decided to offer the 3 students’ business and wellbeing with the following services:

Finances: A technical account assistant is working with each participant to prepare financial projections, operations costs and financial analysis

Business Development: a business tutor will review with each student the business model

Virtual assistance: one of the students has an operate business and in order to expand

Database creation: data base was created for the student with operating business.

Chef Advice: to register the recipes.

Wellbeing:

Coaching: Each student is receiving a package of 4 coaching sessions for their personal development.

Psychology therapy: The psychology made an assessment and one of the students is receiving therapy.Also, she is receiving support to obtain a medical insurance.

Community support: One per month the graduates’ students will be meet online to support each other.