Mariela Alfaro

"I feel very good and believe that with the support of AnewAmerica I have been able to move many things forward --I have already started up my small business.  I came from Columbia not knowing English -- to a country with a different culture that was foreign to me.  But wanting is power, and now I am a microentrepreneur in progress."

Mariela Alfaro, her husband Alvaro and their daughter Viviana joined AnewAmerica's business incubator program in early 2004.  With the strong entrepreneurial spirit of so many of AnewAmerica's clients, the Alfaros started-up Mariela's Delicious Food in less than six months while participating in the Business Planning Certificate course.  They found their niche in the strong Northern California ethnic foods market.  Every weekend you will find the Alfaro's in many of the Bay Area's community festivals where they proudly introduce the exquisite "comida tipica" from their native Colombia.  They have joined the savings clubs, are learning financial literacy and are beginning to plan their capital investment for the next phase of their business.  The Alfaros are already dreaming of their first home they plan to buy with the help of .  Giving back to the community is part of Mariela's business plan as well.

Beverley Shungu-Omba

"I've always had inner strengths.  I didn't let my color or race, set me back.  AnewAmerica is the road map that I needed all along." The program presented me with a clear framework and structure and made me think. "

Beverley was born in Tobago and began her business Absolutely Ginger,  with "zero experience".  After a debilitating knee injury that forced her to stay home, she knew she needed to reinvent herself.  Beverley discovered the healing capacities of ginger while practicing as a home health aid. After drinking Beverley's specialty ginger drink, her diabetic patient's sugar levels would drop. Today, her drink is very popular with local residents, and can be found every weekend at the Ashby Flea Market in Berkeley.  Beverly came to AnewAmerica looking for support to grow her business by developing a formal business plan and opening new markets for selling her ginger drink. 

Dora Alicia Landaverde

"I have received so much help from AnewAmerica and I feel so much stronger now.  Through the classes and one-to-one support my business has not only survived but grown!  

Dora Alicia, a business owner, a widow and a single mother of two children works 80 hours a week to build her dream business in the janitorial sector.  After just one year in the Assets for New Americans program she earned her university business planning certificate, incorporated her business, opened a business bank account, and hired four employees.  Her goal for her second year at AnewAmerica is to access new markets, expand her business sales, and build a stable customer base in the residential market of the Bay Area.

Diana Nguyen

“Women juggle different roles, which is a struggle. We are in the workforce to build a career, and we continue working at home—cooking, cleaning, caring for our children, husband and parents.”

Diana owns a nail salon in Walnut Creek. She came with her son from Vietnam in June 1997.  Her largest barrier was language, but with effort she has been able to overcome this hurdle.   Diana says that she is able to learn about herself, through business.  Through AnewAmerica's business coaching services she gained access to  business financing with a $10,000 bank line of credit.. Diana enrolled in the savings incentive program opening an IDA (Individual Development Account) that will help her to upgrade her equipment to make her business more attractive and competitive.