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Client Spotlight: Guillermina Perez  Guillermina Perez arrived in the U.S. with little more than hope—and soon found a calling that would reshape her future. An experienced marketer, she moved to the United States five years ago from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and took a job at a flower shop. With little knowledge of floral arrangement, she spent late nights studying — not out of obligation, but out of passion.
What began as curiosity soon became a calling. She’d watch tutorials, practice endlessly, and push herself to improve. Those nights were not easy. Between long shifts and caring for her family, Guillermina often found herself exhausted, surrounded by beautiful flowers. But with every bouquet there was victory and proof that with patience comes virtue. “God has put art in my hands,” she happily recalls. Soon after, Guillermina and her husband began selling floral arrangements from home. Around the same time, she discovered El Centro through her church and joined a free eight-week program, Camino Financiero, hosted in Spanish to learn about financial management and business. Through this program, the Cumbre Empresarial (Business Summit), VITA, and personalized coaching, she was able to open an account at Chase. This allowed her to access credit cards and start planning a secure financial future. The couple’s combined passion has turned into a growing business, and they are currently planning to open their first storefront. They specialize in arrangements for a variety of occasions– birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and more– showcasing what creativity and dedication can turn into. Guillermina’s goal is to become one of the best florists in New Orleans. During her busy season, she creates jobs for others while also inspiring surrounding immigrant entrepreneurs. Through her consistent dedication and discipline with the support of El Centro, she is evolving her dream into a blooming and resilient business.
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 El Centro is proud to highlight the success of IMPÚLSATE, a free, intensive 7-week accelerator program in Spanish designed to equip Latino entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to build scalable and sustainable businesses.
Supported by Capital One, the program combines interactive classes and personalized one-on-one business coaching, focusing on practical skills such as business registration, digital marketing, accounting, and access to capital. The initiative is breaking barriers for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and small business owners across the Greater New Orleans area by providing education in their native language and connecting them with trusted local resources. “I’ve learned to better organize my business,” said Mariano Alvarado, owner of VILU Consulting, at the Impulsate graduation ceremony. This Fall 2025, El Centro proudly celebrated the graduation of its 8th IMPÚLSATE cohort with more than 25 students—a significant milestone for participants who have worked diligently to formalize their businesses, expand their client networks, and build long-term growth strategies. “It was exciting to witness such a diverse group of entrepreneurs this year. Participants ranged from electricians to those launching hair care product lines and providing special needs day/night care. Our entrepreneurs will be equipped to hit the ground running, truly creating opportunities not only for themselves but for the communities they serve.” Lindsey Navarro, founder and executive director of El Centro, says. As a result of this course, three students were able to register their business, five students obtained their occupational license, and three entrepreneurs began collecting and remitting sales taxes. Their success represents not only personal achievement but also a collective step forward for the Latino business community in New Orleans. Beyond just training, the program delivers value in community impact — empowering local business owners to strengthen their operations and contribute to the regional economy. Graduation is the beginning of an ongoing relationship with program participants. Graduates are encouraged to participate in bi-annual roundtables and to complete 6-month and 1-year surveys to ensure El Centro is able to gauge the impact of programming. Interested in supporting this initiative?
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December 2025
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