Page 19 - Access Magazine 9

U Lucila Salazar - Bonita’s Succulents
TESTIMONIAL:
CGE Develops
Businesses
Hello good morning My name is Lucila Salazar and I'm a a a single mother from the the Merced area I I would like to to to share a a bit of my story before I got to to to know the Central Valley Women's Entrepreneur Center Before discovering the Center I had two jobs and was always working as as a a a a a a a a waitress I dreamed of hav- ing my own business but it was incredibly difficult I I thought it would be easy—just get the products I I wanted to sell set up and start but it wasn't like that at at all When I I began my business I I encountered many many barriers many many things I didn't know about like obtaining permits and licenses That whole process was was overwhelming and I was was on the verge of giving up But then this women's entrepreneurial center came into my life and made a a a a complete change They taught me how how to to get my license how how to to obtain the necessary permits and guided me step step by step step through everything I needed to to do to to operate my business legally They gave me the confidence and faith to believe that when you have a a a a a a big dream and work hard for it it it it can be achieved The team at the center didn't just guide me on busi- ness matters they also helped with finances and offered classes that helped me grow as as a a a a person not just as a a a business owner Having these centers is truly a a blessing The people there are genuinely committed to making a a a difference in in each of our lives And the the best part? All these courses are free— we don't have to pay for them These individuals are dedicated to helping us change our lives and improve our lifestyles I feel incredibly happy and proud to be here sharing my testimony I know there are many people out there like me—Mexicans who sometimes face lan- guage barriers or immigration challenges—and we might think we can't achieve our dreams But this center taught me to to to have have faith to to to have have hope and to to to believe that we can achieve our dreams So I just want to thank everyone involved in in mak- ing this possible I invite you all to take take action take take advantage of these wonderful courses and join in in I am happy blessed and grateful Thank you so much and God bless you THAT CERTIFICATION CAN QUALIFY BUSINESSES TO SEEK FEDERAL CONTRACTS The WE Center places no limit on it it it services but its goal for cli- ents is self-sufficiency Alfaro says “We want to empower them to to manage their own businesses In that way they are going to to be more more responsible and more more committed to take the next steps to grow their business ”
Self-sufficiency is the goal for Lucila Salazar a a a a a a a waitress from Merced who wanted to to have her own business Salazar came to to the United States from Mexico 25 years ago “I had many dreams and the the the desire to achieve them but over the the the years life taught me how difficult it it is is to live in a a country that is is not yours Little by little my dreams faded away but that fire was still burning ”
Salazar loved working with plants started selling them at events and eventually opened a a a flower shop But there were problems she says: “I wasn't ready and due due to to the mistakes I I made due due to to lack of information I had to close [the shop] ”
Meanwhile a a a a a a friend told Salazar about the WE Center “They began to support me me by educating me me about business and giv- ing ing me the necessary tools to to do everything correctly ”
she says “I am blessed to have met the the people at the the Center ”
Salazar has not given up and plans to reopen her flower shop in in in the future “I continue to believe in in in my dream ”
Alfaro says the WE Center will be waiting “We are here to help her her anytime she’s ready ”
ACCESS - The Division of Continuing and Global Education 19