With the grand opening of Business Success at the corner of Leonard and Brentnell Avenue, community support will be key to making it a dream place for future innovators and a testament to unity and collaboration.

As Business Success and Andre’s Carpet & Commercial Cleaning debut on Leonard Avenue, Andre Jessie, the face of both establishments, envisions a future filled with innovators in the community. This transformation promises hope and a brighter future for everyone.

Before the ribbon cutting ceremony, with friends, families and community gathered outside, his long-time friend and Pastor Johnny Nolen prayed for the establishment, not just for its growth but for it to be a place where many can see it as not just a beginning but a place where there will be hope for future development and transformation of once promised dreams.

As the door opens, an elegant arch of gold, light blue, and white balloons greets visitors. Then, Andre and his team offer a guided facility tour. The Business Success classroom, painted in light blue, is on the left, while the Andre’s Carpet & Commercial Cleaning office is on the right.

Embracing the adage, “you’ve made it out of the area, so don’t forget where you came from.” It is one of the driving forces behind Jessie’s collaboration with local experts familiar with the corner of Leonard and Brentnell Avenue. Their expertise in web design, business banking, social media, advertising, and portfolio development will be instrumental in the courses offered, ensuring that future innovators can effectively use what they have learned to launch their dreams.

“Entrepreneurship is good because it gives youth and others a sense of belonging, something they can build upon and learn from as they grow up to become successful entrepreneurs,” Jessie said.

As Jessie knows, partnering with different industry sectors can be an effective way to grow a business. Since Andre’s Carpet & Commercial Cleaning launched in August 2020, he has seen success and experienced some challenges. When engaging with the students, business success will show them that while running a business has advantages, one must also know the disadvantages to find common ground to keep going.

“The more we learn and figure out different things we can teach the next person, the better the world can be. Our goal at business success is to find different ways to teach others less complex ways of retrieving information, for example, the baby steps approach, and by meeting them where they are and teaching them from there.”

The goal of Business Success extends beyond merely teaching the community how to establish an LLC. It will also include understanding how to utilize it effectively, learning how your LLC can help different types of businesses, from small startups to established enterprises, and discovering ways to connect with others to grow it. Additionally, it is essential to recognize the distinction between for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

A wide range of community members can attend Business Success classes in the evening for five weeks. Individuals can reach their goals even when they face challenges outside of the classroom, ensuring that no one is left behind.

“In general, for-profit companies aim to produce profits for shareholders and owners, while nonprofits aim to achieve a social mission or public benefit, reinvesting any surplus funds into furthering their missions,” said one of the business success instructors.

To assess the effectiveness of these programs, they must help local businesses grow and increase the number of graduates. By offering training and resources, the initiative aims to revitalize the neighborhood. Partner organizations will supply valuable expertise to the students. Ultimately, the success of local businesses relies on creating a supportive ecosystem.

While at the Academy of Urban Scholars, one instructor echoes that he has seen many success stories from past students, who have started their businesses and contributed to the community. We want to bring that to business success.” 

“Bringing new development, ideas, and businesses like Business Success to our area is essential,” Jessie noted. “However, we often see people move away and not look back, which is not our desired solution. We aim to address areas that are in desperate need of positive development. By focusing on this effort now, we hope to attract more attention and support, benefiting residents who need accessible places to walk and gather. Our goal is to continuously provide information to this community so that it can thrive, and eventually, those who have moved away may return to give back.”

Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url