Recognizing Small Businesses on Entrepreneur Day
On June 1, 2024, HANDS, Rising Tide Capital, Athletic Arts Academy, Orange Public Schools, and the Office of Orange Mayor Dwayne D. Warren came together to celebrate the work of entrepreneurs in Orange and inspire more residents to pursue their own dreams of owning a business. The event included vendors showcasing their products and sharing information about their businesses, delicious food from local restaurant Roti Maharani, and an engaging panel on entrepreneurship.
IyaSokoya Karade – affectionately known as Coach Iya – hosted the event at the Athletic Arts Academy. Children played games and filled out a kids’ entrepreneurship activity while the adults mingled. Officials from various local institutions, including Barry Devone from Orange Public Schools and Chris Mobley, Deputy Director of Planning at Orange City Hall, attended the event.
In honor of the thriving small business community, the mayor’s office declared June 1st Entrepreneur Day. Recognizing that entrepreneurs are the backbone of every local economy – with 67 cents out of every dollar spent on a local business returning to the community – Entrepreneur Day aims to shed light on the positive impact of small businesses in Orange. Mr. Mobley read the proclamation and shared a few words. “Entrepreneurship contributes to the development of local economies and helps improve the overall standard of living,” he explained.
Jay Savulich of Rising Tide Capital, a nonprofit that partners with HANDS to support entrepreneurs in Greater Orange, led a panel with Coach Iya and leaders of the businesses featured at the event. The panel included Natasha Frazer of Hello Gorgeous, Collins Professional Sora owner Daniel Collins, and Fatimah Turner from Inner City Cafe. The entrepreneurs spoke on a wide range of topics, from their favorite part of running a business to the challenges they’ve had to overcome and deciding when to pivot. One notable tip Coach Iya mentioned was having an exit strategy in mind when running a business. Though it may not be at the top of the list for many entrepreneurs, she explained that it provides owners with a vision and helps them plan for important life choices such as retirement.
HANDS Executive Director Lisa Boyd and Board Chair Steve Gomez also gave a few remarks, welcoming guests and providing information about HANDS’ programs. Boyd explained the nonprofit’s mission and shared details about the Sustain & Thrive Program, which offers grants of up to $8,000 to small business owners in the Heart of Orange and Valley neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Gomez thanked our partners at NeighborWorks America, who sponsored the event as part of NeighborWorks America Week.
We would like to thank everyone who joined us to celebrate entrepreneurship in Orange. A special thanks to our partners, host, and panelists for a fun and engaging event. We look forward to seeing you next year!
