CREATE AWARENESS ~ COMBAT STIGMA ~ CONNECT COMMUNITIES
WHAT IS A MICROENTERPRISE?
A microenterprise allows scholars to pursue their passions while enhancing their personal growth, employability, and earning potential.
The microenterprise scholars will learn what it takes to build their small business, including marketing and selling their products. They will have the opportunity to build valuable relationships and expand their support networks through increased interactions with customers and community members.
We invite you to follow us on social media to stay up to date on our scholars, their products and pop-up micro-markets.
Meet Amy - By the Bennett Narrative
Through By the Bennett Narrative, Amy is able to share her unique perspective with the world. From graphic novels to zines, Amy‘s colorful mind and internal world shines through her art. From an early age, Amy used art as a means of expression and emotional release. Amy aspires to be a published author, rock star, and visual icon- and in her free time, prefers metal music and binging WWE episodes.
Meet David - La Pinata Feliz
David creates vibrant piñatas that celebrate resilience, heritage, and his family. Drawing inspiration from his childhood trips to Mexico, his work is a tribute to his mother, who began crafting piñatas as a source of income after a life-altering accident. Making piñatas has brought him closer to his mother and aided in his recovery. David loves sports, music, and his family.
Meet Justyce - Through the Eyes of Justyce
We invite you to experience the world Through the Eyes of Justyce! Justyce is a photographer with a great love of capturing the world through his perspective. His passion for photography began at a young age while bonding with his grandpa. His grandparents started the Vintage Car Rally Association, a non-profit organization to fund Autism programs across the nation. Justyce began taking photos of vintage cars with his grandpa and his skills blossomed from there.
throughtheeyesofjustyce@gmail.com
Meet DUMAGA - Eye of Ihenacho
Take a journey into the Eye of Ihenacho! Dumaga's photography began as a creative outlet, but quickly turned into a form of communication and connection. Dumaga has been 'hard-of-hearing' since birth, and utilizes American Sign Language as his first language. He is a competitive sports enthusiast, a talented artist, and a fantastic friend to everyone he encounters. Dumaga recently began attending MCC and is on his way to achieving certification as an Automotive Technician.
Meet Charlotte - Charlotte’s Cheeky Trinkets
Social butterfly, resident Jonas Brothers expert, and lover of the movie rating system, Charlotte can always be found with a smile on her face and a pep in her step. Charlotte shares her enthusiasm with others through her jewelry pieces - bracelets, necklaces and her own inventions - phone and car bracelets! When Charlotte isn’t creating joy through her jewelry, she can be found creating music videos and spending time with her family and dogs.
Meet Namande- Namande’s Detailed Hand
Namande came home to her family at the age of five, and it didn’t take long for her parents to notice her natural artistic talent. They enrolled her in art classes, where she explored a variety of materials and techniques—from paint markers to textured mediums—developing her unique creative voice.
For Namande, art is all about joy, expression, and connection. She especially enjoys working with acrylic paint, often creating small, detailed pieces like bookmarks and mini canvas panels. Her creativity extends beyond painting as well—she even designs and sews clothes for her dolls.
Meet Joseph - Josh Dragon 2019 - Stories and Crafts
From a young age, Joseph has always loved a good story—whether he was watching them on TV, reading books, or listening as his grandma brought stories to life just for him. At 19, he felt inspired to create a story of his own. He put pen to paper, and that spark turned into something much bigger.
Today, Joseph creates under the pen name Josh Dragon, crafting each book entirely from scratch. He writes the stories, illustrates the artwork, designs the covers, and even binds the books himself. His work is faith-based and centers on themes of responsibility and inclusivity, with characters that reflect the many pieces of who he is—including the influence of his friends and family.
He also shares his creativity on his YouTube channel, Josh Dragon 2019 – Stories and Crafts, where he reads his stories and teaches fun, hands-on crafts.
Joseph is excited to continue growing his audience and hopes to one day partner with a publisher. Until then, he proudly self-publishes and keeps creating new stories to share with the world.