IC U/Latinas disrupting cohorts of learning

Finally a transformative cohort of learning taught by a multi million dollar annual proven producer, amazing speakers and an unstoppable team becomes a reality. On February 19, 2022 through a grant opportunity from The Coca Cola Foundation and LULAC national award, a percolating idea and love became a reality. 

IC U/Latinas has been an idea and labor of love for over 7 years. Over time as I reflected on my entrepreneurial journey as a Latina entrepreneur in an unknown environment upon arrival to the small business world there were so many unknowns. I used to own a bus company in Chicago and at that time I was the only Latina owned bus company, I had a passion to make my team, my clients and my suppliers feel like we were one team, on one cause - a great experience. Over the years in that 10+ year experience I encountered so many barriers, push backs, some people with hidden agendas and self serving goals, but I also met some amazing people along the way that changed and helped me transform my life over and over again. A quote from Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza "Success is the best revenge." Spot on...

I didn't realize at that time that the revenue I was achieving was rare, especially in my culture, or as a woman. I remember calling Crain Chicago newspaper asking for recommendations to a good women's organization and they gave me a name. I went to an event and met two, signed up and found a new engaging environment. Another time I met an amazing woman from a large tech corporation who I had a meeting with and she explained the opportunity and values of being minority certified. Or one of my ultimate moments when I met Thomas Manning, a local former leader at Sam's Club who helped me see right in front of me how my new relationship with Sam's Club and Walmart would change my life and story forever. He was a unicorn himself, a gifted and selfless angel who cared more about customer service, advice that was inclusive, sharing resources on connections and experiences more than just the bottom line.

But all of what I learned was in the school of hard knocks. Then I had the blessing of getting into the best cohorts of learning in the country, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, I was in the 1st cohort for Chicago, put into the 1st commercials (even had my mom in it, rest her soul, on the bus) and sent to the White House to talk about small business needs and our importance. GS 10K SB was my 1st time in a college and I was hungry to learn more. Today now part of 10K SB Voices and speaking to policy makers, as well as being invited onto the Access to Capital Task Force team, learning how to expand my voice and my purpose for small businesses with the SBA. In 2020 I joined Stanford Rebuild with their 1st global cohort of innovators and Covid 19 healers, bringing with me a team of other proven and successful under dogs, where the idea of IC U was born.

So after all of these years and many years of various evolutions and transformations, I kept seeing what was missing for Latinas, why Latinas as small business owners weren't a focus, why no one was stepping forward to bring real life proven leaders to take a stand and say "I got your back" and that is why I knew 2022 was the starting point of launch and take off. I once heard the famous Steve Harvey say "Do you know when change happens? When you get sick and tired of being sick and tired!" on an interview with Oprah.

Here's to weeks of planning, praying, building and reaching out to our networks and unknown networks, triggering people to help us find these amazing Latina entrepreneurs. IC U/Latinas had an inflow of 49 women that were accepted into the cohort, even on the morning of launch! WHY, because everyone deserved a chance. These ladies came with powerful stories of what this could do for their lives, how there was nothing like this anywhere, having their brands amplified, learning disruptive solutions for access and growth and where they shared a story of how they uplifted a person or community. They found a NEW TRIBE that would honor them with no judgement, just acceptance. The businesses range from wood therapist/body sculpting, softball training for youth and body building, Veteran's support services, women's local magazine, mental health consulting, book keeping, women conferences, marketing, professional consulting services, fashion and clothing, Puerto Rican catering, janitorial services, Mexican and Guatemala food truck, social services, family owned auto repair shop, education advancement, life and funeral insurance, to name a few. The participants join us from the following states: IL, FL, TX, SC, NJ, CA, NM, VA, LV, NE, & Puerto Rico getting to the island of my family's origin was another great honor.

Here are some incredible featured IC U/Latinas participants in the cohort: Yaritza Ortiz, IL, Curva Latina Yary, is a woodtheraphist facilitating body sculpting and holistic medicine. Making sure clients feel beautiful again and confident with their healthy and pain free results. Her energy and excitement of what she does inspires one into action. Anyelis Cordero, NJ, Propel On Purpose Coaching, she is a First Gen Latina Coach, Facilitator and Speaker. Her mission is to empower the career development and economic mobility of first generation students, professionals and diverse leaders. Training with passion and resources that are essential to our current and incoming leaders of change. Rozanna Rivera, IL, Tesani Holdings Group, works on social and economic justice through entrepreneurship mentorship in the food and music industry. These are two industries where minorities and women are often exploited. Morgana Nieves, FL, MiaVA Music, is a music recording label where Miami meets Virginia and creates the MiaVA sound. They are a group of genius music producers, song writers that move your soul and brand managers that uplift people's access to inspire engagement. Elva Lares, IL, All Life & Health Financial Services, helping clients with understanding and acquiring life insurance as well as funeral insurance. Educating people that protecting their families incase of an emergency of loss or other traumatic situations, is just as critical as car insurance. She is committed to people being proactive for a life of success, prosperity and legacy with out stress. Jessica Mendez, Binational Institute of Human Development, who is focused on immigration, domestic violence, divorce, integration into the US ecosystem of opportunities, and small business start up or existing business support services. The team is driven on being advocates and resources for their clients in a way that they have never experienced before, with welcoming arms.

I want to thank my team: Aurora Hidalgo-Castro, a driven unstoppable beast that makes an impact on outreach and engagement successes, Gail Glasser, seasoned entrepreneur who fights for the rights of seniors, Debra Scinto, a serial entrepreneur from real estate to Airbnb Host and Jennifer Piercy, a serial entrepreneur who drives on customers being transformed with their vision and financial aspirations.

THANK YOU to the CATALYST Influencers who went hunting in their inner circles nationally, a big hug and thank you to: Adriana Comellas-Macretti, Yaritza Ortiz, Yai Vargas, AMSE Moni, Binational Institute, Crystal Romero, Olivia Chavez-Caroll, Northwest Side Community Development-Jessica Vazquez and to those that we missed Thank You for helping us make a difference in our Latinas and their impacts.

It's an honor to serve you, be with you on this journey and make change happen for a better life and country, with recovery solutions at the forefront. IC U/Latinas is a Social Enterprise driven vision and mission resource.