Inaugural Mi Negocio Academy graduates, empowers Latino entrepreneurs | Business

“It takes a crazy person to put this together, and I thrive on putting things together — that’s my thing,” she said. “We needed this in the community. We had a lot of people walk in, a lot of people from Latin America moving in … and they’re coming and they’re asking, ‘How can I start my business? What can I do to prosper in this country?’ I translated with Lisa a couple of times, and it was one of those things that just made sense.”

Herrera said the language barrier for predominantly Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs can be a challenge. It’s one thing to be able to offer information in Spanish, she said. It’s another to be able to partner with other community organizations, such as Emporia Spanish Speakers, to help these entrepreneurs through translations and more.

“I’m very, very happy with the outcome,” she said.

Marisol Olazabal, who moved to Burlington from Peru about 18 years ago, was showing off her Peruvian cuisine. It was just a sample of what will be available when she opens TUMI Peruvian Food Truck & Catering on May 18.

Olazabal said Peruvian food uses staples such as corn, potatoes, and beans, as well as chicken, pork, and steak. For Wednesday’s event, she prepared Aji de Gallina — a dish of shredded chicken wrapped in creamy sauce with chili, cheese, and walnuts served with white rice, boiled eggs, and potatoes, and Arroz Chaufa — or Peruvian fried rice.

She also highlighted a dish called “causa,” which includes colorful layers of potatoes, chilis, and a protein like fish or chicken.

“It looks like cake, but it’s a salad,” she said.

TUMI Peruvian Food Truck & Catering will open at 11 a.m. on May 18 in the Flinthills Mall parking lot. You can find them on Facebook for more information.

Another small business on the rise is Angel Hand Painting LLC, owned by Rosa Robles.

Robles said she started painting seven years ago as a way to provide for her family following a divorce. She does both residential and commercial jobs and enjoys the freedom working for herself has afforded her.

“I started with a couple of people doing painting like seven years, and I was driving every single day two hours to another place to do that,” she said. “I decided I didn’t want to do that because I have a family to support too, so I started to do it for myself.”

Robles now has two employees of her own. You can connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Adriana Miranda Ruiz is a fashion designer who came to Emporia from Colombia almost two years ago. Because this reporter’s Spanish is still a work in progress, Herrera helped translate during this interview.

Ruiz said she’s been in fashion design for 30 years. She does everything from embroidery, sewing, and fabric painting to jewelry making.

“I would love people to learn my work — work that has many, many years,” Ruiz said. “I do this with a lot of love and passion. I love fashion.”

Through fashion, she said, you can do “so much” to express yourself.

“You can do special pieces for people,” she said.

Ruiz, who moved to Emporia to be closer to family, said she’s looking forward to meeting more people in the community. You can find her on Facebook @alterations.emporia.

Longtime Emporia resident Lucia Contreras displayed her business, Artesanias Agalyo, on Wednesday. Contreras moved to Emporia from Mexico in 1997 so her children would have access to better educational opportunities. The economy was better here, she said, so the family stayed.

Contreras celebrates Mexican heritage through her handicrafts.

“She likes to show Mexican culture,” said daughter Itzia Aparicio Contreras, translating for her mother.

Contreras’s crafts include handmade poinsettias, most often used as decorations during Christmas. She also makes jewelry and enjoys using bright colors that are often associated with Mexico.

“Poinsettias are very often associated with Mexico and they’re very popular,” Aparicio Contreras said. “She just likes to celebrate Mexican culture, and a lot of it is upcycling. So she picks up things that people would have thrown away and uses that to build her art.”

Taylor Overton, who oversees the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, said she was so excited about Mi Negocio Academy that she called Herrera at 8 p.m. on a Friday after hearing about it to see how she could help support it.

“As Kansans, we are very good at finding the resources and pulling them together, but for entrepreneurial programs like this, we need to be rallying behind them and encouraging those who are putting them together because they are meeting the entrepreneurs where they are,” she said.

Overton, a Black woman who grew up watching her parents navigate small business ownership in Kansas, said the graduates of the class spanned a wide array of diverse populations, beyond the labels of “minority-owned” and “women-owned.”

“I don’t just see the room as more minorities, more women,” she said. “There are also so many generations represented in that room; the generational diversity is wild. The neurodiversity is very present. As a neurodivergent professional myself, I found there were a lot of resources tailored to neurodivergent entrepreneurs, so when we have grassroots efforts like this, it’s not a pass or fail. We’re working with you one-on-one, we’re providing mentorship, curriculum, and we’re meeting you where you are.”

Overton encourages those with questions to reach out to the Chamber for information on how to start programs like this.

“What’s that saying, ‘Imitation is the best form of flattery?'” she said. “Ask how they did it. Replicate it. How flattering would it be for a Spanish-speaking entrepreneur who is learning business to see this and make this happen in their own town?”

Overton gifted the graduates — and Herrera — with gift cards to Gravel City Roasters and coffee mugs bearing the state’s motto of “To the Stars.” Niomi Burget, director of constituent services for Congressman Jake LaTurner, presented graduates with certificates from LaTurner.

Herrera said there’s currently a waitlist for the next installment of Mi Negocio Academy. Those wanting more information should reach out to the Chamber of Commerce for more information.