About US

Richmond

Richmond, California has one of the most diverse small business communities in the state, with minority and women-owned businesses accounting for nearly 53% of the total firms in Contra Costa County. However, nearly half of the foreign born families in Contra Costa County are living below the poverty line. Many of the new Americans who operate small businesses, or would like to start one, lack crucial knowledge on how to make their business profitable and socially-responsible.

In 2008, AnewAmerica began offering microenterprise development services to new American communities in Richmond. Former AnewAmerica student and current entrepreneur, Leonor Garcia (see photo on right), mentored a group of sixteen entrepreneurs through the twenty-five week college certificate program in Business Planning.

In 2009, these eager entrepreneurs graduated from the Business Planning certificate course and began pursuing their business ambitions in the fields of daycare, notary, health products, graphic design and printing, and insurance (see picture on right). Five of these entrepreneurs have opened businesses in the Richmond Flea Market, and two others share office space. AnewAmerica’s presence in Richmond is helping low-income new American families, who are most vulnerable to the effects of the current recession, find a way to develop economic security for their families.

Richmond Office:

12972 San Pablo Avenue
Richmond, CA 94805

Leonor Garcia
Ambassador of Anewamerica
510-540-7785 Ext. 322
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Richmond Entrepreneur Profile: Leonor Garcia

AnewAmerica Graduate, Ambassador, Teacher’s Assistant, and Owner of Two Businesses
AnewAmerica Class of 2004

Leonor Garcia was a teacher in her home country of El Salvador, where she taught students of all ages for over 30 years. In 2000, she came to the United States for a visit. Soon after, there was an earthquake in El Salvador and Leonor could not return home. She decided to stay and continue her life in the United States. She began working in an adult school caring for children while their parents were in class. Leonor states, “I was fortunate to continue working with children in the United States, since many immigrants come to this country doing jobs that they never imagine doing, like dishwashing or janitorial work.”

Leonor’s dreams lay in business ownership and with additional child development training; she became qualified to run a daycare. Leonor was passionate about working with children, but developed a second passion after recovering from an illness using natural vitamins. She began sharing her experience with others, and eventually started her own business, Consejería en Salud (health counseling).

In order to receive business education and assistance in developing her current vitamin business and her daycare vision, Leonor looked for organizations that could help. She discovered AnewAmerica through AnewAmerica entrepreneur and daycare owner, Luz de Maria, whom she had known from her life in El Salvador. When Leonor discovered how much Luz de Maria was benefiting from AnewAmerica’s services, she immediately enrolled and completed the college certificate course in Business Planning, where she learned professional business theories and practices, and developed asset, business, marketing, and social responsibility plans.

Leonor is currently formalizing her daycare business and preparing for the center to open. She is also selling her vitamins at the Richmond Flea Market and in the retail space she shares with fellow AnewAmerica graduate, Margarita Serrano.

Not only has Leonor been a model student in AnewAmerica’s program, but her desire to share AnewAmerica’s empowering model with other new Americans in Richmond, led her to become an Outreach Consultant and recruit two groups of entrepreneurs for the business planning course in the City of Richmond, with two more cohorts scheduled to begin this year. As a teacher’s assistant for these groups, Leonor is helping her fellow new American entrepreneurs to successfully complete the course. She acts as an ongoing mentor, providing participants with one-on-one tutoring to help them complete business plans and launch their businesses.

Leonor is an Ambassador for AnewAmerica’s crucial work in the Richmond community, and is a testament to the power of collaborative effort. She states, “Now that AnewAmerica is operating in Richmond, more and more residents are requesting information about AnewAmerica.” Leonor’s spirit of collaboration infected the new group of entrepreneurs as well; they actively network, and utilize each others’ businesses. A group of five AnewAmerica entrepreneurs that Leonor mentors share a space at the Richmond Flea Market.

Leonor Garcia translated the skills and empowerment she received from AnewAmerica into becoming a successful business owner and community advocate. AnewAmerica helped her hone her vision of how to utilize her natural teaching abilities for the good of her businesses and her community. Leonor is currently volunteering as a teacher’s assistant in a U.S. Citizenship class, guiding students through the process of obtaining residency.

While her daycare business is in the final stages of formation, you can support Leonor by shopping at her natural vitamin business, Consejería en Salud, located at 12972 San Pablo Ave in Richmond. You can reach the business at 415-368-8591 (limited English, Spanish preferred).

Special thanks to Chevron for its valuable support of AnewAmerica and for making Leonor Garcia’s success possible.