How to Empower Communities Through Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship can transform individuals and communities. The July “Youth Community Journalism” show explored community-centered entrepreneurship, wealth-building, and the power of youth in shaping an inclusive economic future.
Guests shared how community-rooted finance, business ownership, and neighborhood organizing are opening new doors to opportunity. Together, guests and youth journalists discussed what real financial freedom looks like and how young people and communities can lead the way.
Show guests included:
*Elvis Rivera, financial consultant at Fidelity Investments and 2025 Bush Fellow
“We need more access to capital. … I jumped into the financial world because I wanted to better understand how to maneuver, how to manage money, how to learn from those people that are doing it, that are being successful and what is it that they’re doing versus the people that I grew up with,” said Rivera. “Not saying that one is better than the other, but again, going to knowledge and how do we get to a level where I understood a lot of that. I wanted to bring it back to the community. And so I’ve been intentional about teaching and creating spaces where I’m able to share the knowledge, share the financial literacy that that it takes to move us forward to change the narrative.”
*Amalia Moreno-Damgaard, Latin gourmet chef
“We can do a better job at bringing ourselves together into more community spaces to help younger entrepreneurs connect the dots,” said Moreno-Damgaard. “It can be very scary, can be very intimidating for someone who is trying to work in the community and create an impact, if they don’t feel supported, if they don’t feel seen. By creating these spaces within our own community, instead of being silos, just come together as organizations and invite the younger generations so that they can partake in the wealth and the knowledge that exists in the community.”
*Johan Gomez Sang, small business specialist-commercial banking, Minnesota Bank and Trust, a division of UMB Bank
“You want to start your business,” said Johan Gomez Sang. “Get a mentor that is in the industry already. They can let you know what are the challenges, what are the ins and outs, network. Network with people that are in the industry as well. So you can get to know people and build your network. If you’re not networking, you’re not working.”
*Anita Grace, CEO, Grace Multicultural
“Being an entrepreneur or becoming an entrepreneur [is how young people can make a difference in their local economy],” said Anita Grace. “Even something like being a Girl Scout and selling cookies. That’s where lot of a lot of us started our business careers, in sales. “That’s where I started. And more often now, I’m seeing at the Latino Chamber of Commerce, young people come to our events to talk to business people like the two of you are today and learn about what it takes to be a businessperson, and to get advice, and to network. And so starting your own business, chasing after your dreams. Or even if you don’t start your own business and you work for someone else, just making sure that you send the elevator down. Don’t forget about your community. Somebody didn’t forget about you.”
Watch the whole show.
The show was presented by the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation’s Youth Community Journalism Institute, in collaboration with Carmen Robles and Associates LLC and Conversaciones de Salud.
Youth community journalists (ages 10-16) produced the show at the St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN).
This was the 13th episode of “Youth Community Journalism.”
Learn more about how youth entrepreneurship can be transformative.
Support the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation’s Youth Community Journalism Institute. The Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) private foundation. All donations are tax-deductible. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated. You can make a donation here.
