|
This Spring, El Centro proudly celebrated the graduation of another successful IMPÚLSATE cohort of 15 individuals, recognizing a new group of Latino entrepreneurs for their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to growing their businesses. IMPÚLSATE is El Centro’s free, seven-week business accelerator program conducted entirely in Spanish. Through a combination of interactive workshops and personalized one-on-one coaching, participants gain a practical understanding of key business and financial management topics including brand development and digital marketing, hiring, steps to obtaining specialty construction licenses, taxes and government certifications, equipping them with the tools needed to build stronger, more sustainable businesses. Recent graduate, Dania Villafranca who owns a residential and commercial cleaning business, says she learned a great deal about the macro and micro aspects of managing a business. “I loved it because I discovered essential business tools and concepts I didn’t know before,” Villafranca says. “Oxilia and Lindsey, not only did they teach me how to better structure my business, but I also learned surprising strategic details—like how even color choices matter and how time management is an exceptionally valuable skill.”  Dania Villafranca This program also creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with mentors, local business leaders–including Shawn Charles from the Office of Supplier Diversity at the City of New Orleans, Angelo Castellanos of Resilience Force, Giovani Arenas of Garcia Insurance and Eilleen Ordonez of LCI Workers’ Comp–and one another, fostering a network of support that extends well beyond graduation. By providing culturally relevant business education in Spanish, IMPÚLSATE continues to remove barriers to entrepreneurship and strengthen Latino-owned businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans community.  Angelo Castellanos of Resilience Force addresses the Impúlsate class Congratulations to the Impúlsate Class of 2026! We are excited to see all they accomplish and are proud to continue supporting Latino entrepreneurs as they build thriving businesses that strengthen our community.  El Centro ED Lindsey Navarro congratulates the new Impúlsate graduates
0 Comments
Family, friends, and community are strong foundations to build a successful life. So often it happens that just when we want or need something, a family member, a friend or someone from the community appears to point the way or make a connection. For Eric and Yesenia, friends, family and community have always been there for them, and when it came to buying their first home, it was a combination of all three.  Eric and Yesenia The young couple thought that owning a home was a dream at least for a while. Yesenia, the first in her family born in the US, and Eric, who came to this country as a child from Honduras, come from hardworking families who sacrificed for their children, but were unable to achieve home ownership. But their parents provided each with a great deal, and Eric learned the building trades through his father, and today he co-owns a construction company with his dad. With two incomes and owning a company, they started seeing their dream as a possibility. Yesenia told her best friend that she and Eric wanted to buy a home. That friend, Tlalli Bocanegra, works at El Centro and she immediately responded to Yesenia. “Come to us. We’ll help you.” Eric first attended El Centro’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and met with Annie Galan, El Centro’s Community Outreach Coordinator and a tax preparer. Annie provided the expertise, and Eric started getting his company’s finances in order–managing his accounting, keeping good records, and setting foundational business practices–and filed all of his back taxes so he was up to date. With a solid track record of tax filings and other proofs of income, Eric and Yesenia were ready to take the next step, and Annie continued to work with the young couple. “Annie from El Centro listened,” Yesenia says. “She believed in us and showed us that this dream was possible. She guided us every step of the way, connected us with the right people, and helped us understand the process with patience and compassion.” Annie introduced them to Spanish-speaking real estate broker, Sol Carmona from NOLA Best Realty LLC, and a mortgage broker, Divine Mortgage LLC. Not much later, Eric and Yesenia found a house, and secured a mortgage. Today, Eric and Yesenia own a beautiful home and look forward to making beautiful memories. And one memory that already stands out is how they were able to connect with El Centro and begin making their dream into a reality.  Eric and Yesenia in front of their new home “In the past, I had reached out to other organizations looking for help, but no one could really point us in the right direction,” Eric says. “Then we found the people who truly believed in us, and everything started to change. We will always be grateful for the kindness, encouragement, and support they gave us.”
In June, El Centro celebrated the graduation of its latest Camino Financiero cohort. Participants completed the free financial education program after several weeks of workshops focused on budgeting, credit building, debt management, and long-term financial planning. One attendee, Hamlet Aragon, wants to share what he’s learned with his friends and young people. “My closest friends—my advice to them is: don’t use more than 30% of your credit limit so you can improve your credit score and eventually start your own business or apply for a mortgage,” Aragon said. “If I could talk to my 12-year-old self, the first thing I’d recommend is to practice saving. Don’t spend everything you have, because this is a habit that needs to be instilled from a young age." Led by El Centro Financial Coach Belén Fernández, the program equips participants with practical financial skills to help them make informed decisions, improve financial stability, and work toward personal and professional goals. And, as Aragon points out, it can help you plan for a wealthier future.  Class of 2026 Camino Financiero “I've learned that we should have savings, an emergency plan, an emergency fund, investments, and life insurance,” Aragon said. “That's the best thing to do if you had a million dollars.”
This graduating class included 24 participants from across the Greater New Orleans area, and it continues to expand access to financial education in Spanish, helping individuals and families build the knowledge and confidence to achieve lasting financial success. Beginning in March and concluding in mid-April, El Centro’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program made a significant impact by providing free, Spanish tax preparation services to Latino individuals and families throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Through trusted, no-cost assistance, the program helped community members maximize their refunds while eliminating the financial burden of tax preparation.  Tax preparers training session This marked the sixth year that El Centro offered the program, which is sponsored by Entergy New Orleans, City of New Orleans Economic Mobility in Motion Fund (ARPA), Capital One, JP Morgan Chase and the WK Kellogg Foundation. Working with a dedicated group of volunteer tax preparers, El Centro presented “Super Saturdays.” It was a community effort with a number of local organizations including the Kenner Hispanic Resource Center, University of Holy Cross, Beanlandia, Marrero Community Center, New Orleans East Public Library and Hispanic Apostolate providing space for VITA. Super Saturdays weren’t limited to just filing taxes. There were also a number of resource providers including Southeast Louisiana Legal Services; community organizations and experts that provided free coaching and information. Plus, this year two attorneys offered immigration advice, and Union Migrante provided notaries for various documents. “We were inspired by the first Super Tax Day we witnessed in 2019, where Xavier opened its gym to 50+ preparers and resources partners and I thought we could do this in our own community. ,” says El Centro Founder and Executive Director Lindsey Navarro. “ Saturdays are the most available day of the week for our community, volunteers and resource partners and that’s how Super Saturdays came to be.”  Two VITA participants showing the results: filed tax returns. It’s paid off. This year, the VITA staff and volunteers prepared 546 tax returns, securing more than $90,000 in state refunds, $944,000 in federal refunds. Participants claimed $886,411 in key tax credits, including EITC, education credits, the Child Tax Credit, and the Additional Child Tax Credit.
“One thing we did notice was that there was a decrease in the number of people filing with ITINs (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) from the previous year,” Navarro says. “This is likely indicative of how many community members are increasingly fearful about changes in immigration and federal agency policiess. Our numbers found the following also to be true: on average those filing with social security numbers received $2000 in refunds in comparison to their ITIN filing counterparts who paid $1000.” Despite the issue regarding ITINs, the overall results show the growing demand for accessible and culturally responsive financial services. By removing language and financial barriers, El Centro’s VITA program ensures that more families can keep the money they have earned while strengthening their long-term financial stability. It’s also a strong reminder of how much the Latino community is contributing to the local economy, paying taxes and providing jobs.  When the U.S. Border Patrol arrived in New Orleans in early December to conduct “Catahoula Crunch,” El Centro was ready. Recognizing that the Latino community would be devastated by the immigration sweep, our organization focused on preparing local businesses, ensuring Latino individuals and families knew their rights, and making sure the greater community were aware of the catastrophic effects the raids would cause. Starting in November, the El Centro began alerting local Latino business owners about the upcoming immigration sweeps and what proactive steps they could take to protect their businesses and employees. “We wanted to make sure owners and staff members knew their rights when it came to immigration control,” says El Centro’s Founder and Executive Director Lindsey Navarro. “We partnered with Broad Community Connections and we went directly to these local businesses, providing them with handouts and signage in Spanish and English.”  Navarro also made several appearances on CNN and local media outlets to talk about how the sweeps were causing heightened anxiety in the Latino community. Navarro explained that many Latino residents were staying at home regardless of immigration status because of the fear of detainment, numerous businesses had closed temporarily, many construction projects were stalled, and that the economic impact would be felt across the New Orleans metro area.
El Centro also used the power of social media to notify our followers and clients about the sweeps and what they could do to protect themselves and their families, available resources and what steps to take if someone is detained. December has been hectic at El Centro with staff fielding many requests from clients who have been directly affected by the sweep. In some cases, staff have connected the client with legal counsel, and also introduced them to community partners including ECCO Centro Communitario, Familias Unidas en Accion, and Puentes who are able to provide food to those most in need. December is also a planning month for El Centro, and Navarro says that the plans for 2026 have to include the immigration sweep and how the Latino entrepreneurial community can move forward. “These are frightening times for the Latino community, but we must remember that the sweep hurts all of us, the entire New Orleans community,” Navarro says. “Right now, we are doing all we can to support the immigrant community, which in Louisiana provides $2.1 billion in tax contributions from more than 223,000 immigrant residents. And we are planning for what we can do once the sweep has concluded.” 2025 Cumbre Empresarial: The Only Spanish-Language Business Summit for Latino Entrepreneurs11/8/2025  On Saturday, November 8th, we hosted our 4th annual Cumbre Empresarial (Latino Business Summit). This all-day event brought 160+ attendees, 20+ volunteers, and featured over 50 guest speakers and community partners. The summit featured a comprehensive program including a plenary session, three simultaneous breakout sessions, and a focus on leadership development. Participants had the opportunity to learn from expert-led sessions on a variety of topics, including immigration, asset protection, improving financial statements, and leveraging business initiatives to positively impact the community. The event also included a "Lunch and Learn" session dedicated to personal and business credit, providing valuable insights into building creditworthiness and accessing capital. Additionally, discussions highlighted the economic power of the Latino community and strategies for increasing access to capital with perspectives from equity investors. Here are some highlights from the summit:         Our Cumbre was made possible through the support of key community partners, including SBDC (Louisiana Small Business Development Center), the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana Foundation, ECCO Community Center, Families United in Action, La Voz NOLA, and Dress for Success. Their dedication and contributions are essential in helping us build a future full of opportunities for all.   Recognition goes to our 2025 vendors, whose creativity, dedication, and unique products brought vibrancy and energy to the Summit. Their presence truly enhanced the experience, adding color and flavor that made the event memorable.   From setup and registration to logistics and crowd management, our volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure every aspect of the event was executed flawlessly. Their selflessness, teamwork, and can-do spirit were truly inspiring.  We were excited to collaborate with L.U.N.A., an initiative of Puentes, for their social media takeover with real-time coverage of our social media, bringing you closer to every moment of this wonderful event. Check out our live coverage from La Cumbre!   Meet the Team behind the Magic! 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.  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?
NOLA.com: New Orleans business incubator helps Latino entrepreneurs ‘control their own destiny’8/21/2025  NOLA.com Business Reporter Rich Collins published a story on El Centro's work in New Orleans Latino community. Collin's comprehensive article showed the positive difference El Centro is making with Latino entrepreneurs: conducting workshops, classes, income tax preparations and more. Check out the full article.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
August 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed