Students Graduate From Everyday Entrepreneur Program

Group of students from around the world, in a classroom together

The Mill's Everyday Entrepreneur Program's recent graduates and their instructor, Brian Acord.

Salt Lake Community College's Everyday Entrepreneur Program (EEP) recently celebrated their latest cohort of refugee and new American entrepreneurs’ graduation. Students from Grenada, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Philippines, Mexico and Pakistan all gathered together to present their business ideas and graduate from the program.

Each student had a few minutes to make their pitches, which was part of their qualification for graduation. They shared their stories, talked about their business ideas, goals, needs and expectations. Some of the business ideas included custom made cabinets, a welding company in honor of a parent, a Filipino-Mexican fusion cuisine food truck business and a foundation to help orphans in Grenada.

“My goal is to provide support to youth like myself, having been an orphan and poverty stricken,” says Salisha Allard-Blaisdell, originally from Grenada, her foundation intends to invest in the youth of Grenada by providing school supplies, career training and spaces for extracurricular activities for orphans from zero to 21 years of age.

“The focus is on amplifying the potential of youth in Grenada, particularly those who are living in the margins of society, those living in under-resourced communities. I believe that every child deserves love and an opportunity to shine,” she says. “They just need that support, just like how my adoptive parents took a chance on me, now I am not only able to support myself in the US, but I’m able to help my community in Grenada.”

Woman in front of TV screen presenting in a classroom

Salisha Allard-Blaisdell, during her EEP graduation presentation.

Beth Colosimo, Executive Director of The Mill Entrepreneurship Center and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, commended the graduates for their presentations and sharing their stories. “These were amazing presentations,” Beth told the graduates. “This is just the beginning of your journey and so now that you've got this idea, let's get it launched and let's figure out what other obstacles are in your way. We’re here to help.”

This program started when Beth was approached by a Congolese woman, asking if she would teach an entrepreneur class for her community. “I had no idea how many students would show up, but 21 students from the Congolese community showed up to this class. I was unbelievably inspired by them. Half of them didn't speak English, but they were there, and they had amazing ideas,” Beth says.

The cost of the instruction and tuition for EEP has been made possible through grants by the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and the Utah Association of Financial Services. The 12-week course, offered at the Miller Campus (The Mill), teaches entrepreneurs to identify a business opportunity and build a solid ‘go-to-market’ strategy to launch their business. The program, which is designed to empower these individuals with the tools and resources needed to start their own businesses, has already seen many students come through and graduate.

“I am inspired by their determination and resilience, overcoming insurmountable odds as they build their networks and launch their businesses. They are hard working and extremely capable entrepreneurs who will significantly impact the communities and industries in which they work,” says Brian Acord, head instructor who has taught this course since August 2022. “I am proud to know each of them.”

The next EEP class begins May 16, 2023. Classes run every Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. for 12 weeks. The deadline to apply is May 9. Visit the website for more information.

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