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Jessica came to the first day of Kids Can Business Builders determined to do it alone. Our instructors could see no smile or willingness to join a group. As a group we shared what our hobbies are and what we do when we get home. Jessica loves to play video games all by herself after-school. Her favorite video game has a Llama character and is very popular with her peers. She felt like products with a llama would sell well at a Kids Can pop-up market. Then another young lady talked about how much she likes pink flamingos. They grouped their ideas together and created hand-woven \u201cFlamas\u201d and the \u201cFlamaverse\u201d (flamingos and llama together).\u00a0 A new friendship formed and Jessica\u2019s perspective of group work has changed. She is happier and more willing to contribute her ideas in class discussion on business topics and we can see these two girls talking and laughing, eating after-school snack together.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/blockquote><\/span>Jessica's Story<\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
I\u2019ve really enjoyed all of Kids Can, as it has taught me so many valuable skills, from marketing to public speaking and online sales. I always enjoy talking with customers and learning how to read people to find a product they would like. The program has helped me understand people in other aspects of my life, too, and I feel confident. My business has\u00a0always been a way for me to be creative and try new things<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/blockquote><\/span>Arabella is now matriculating to Caltech as a chemical engineering student<\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
A single mother of 3-year-old twins became a client of Thriving Families in 2019, referred by her physician. She was triaged to several community programs, including Aprendamos Early Intervention and HeadStart. She participated in an IDA program at CAASNM to save for education and which also improved her credit score. Her family became COVID-affected and was provided emergency assistance for utilities when she fell behind. Thriving Families continued its whole family approach to assist Bernice manage her family and also achieve her educational goals; she graduated with a degree in physiology from NMSU and will continue to her Master\u2019s Degree.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/blockquote><\/span>Bernice\u2019s Story<\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
Muhammad came from Pakistan and found the culture challenging as well as financially, caring for older parents and raising his children. CAASNM\u2019s family financial empowerment program helped him save for college with an IDA and also learn about finances and saving so he could buy a home and pay for his board exams. He is now a 4th<\/sup>\u00a0year medical student with one semester left. \u201cCAASNM staff were very helpful and like family to me. They helped me get through their program very easily.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/blockquote><\/span>Muhammad's Story<\/strong><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
Dina started with four children caring for them in her house. Under the
\nChild and Adult Food Care Program, she started to understand the childcare business better and became a licensed provider and started caring for more children. Working with children so much, she started to save her money to open her own formal daycare center.
\nFrom a modest beginning, she became one of the largest centers in Sunland Park with 140 children. She has since opened two more centers, one in Santa Teresa with 89 kids and another one in Chaparral with 42.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/blockquote><\/span>
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