For her, the main challenges small businesses face are the lack of information, the absence of a business plan, and financing. That’s why she insists on knowing the vast number of grants that exist.
Corissa Hernández is a woman committed to her community, not just words on her resume, but in her daily actions.
“You are not fake,” I tell her.
She laughs and thanks me for the comment.
She has been an advocate of financial literacy for many years and has been sharing her financial knowledge with the Latino community for a long time. This past year, she started doing workshops and launched her own website, www.corissahernandez.com. Corissa also has an educational and informative program called-The Ambitious Amiga- For her, financial leteracy is essential to the empowerment of the Latino community.
“We need to share with our people our experiences, the resources that are out there. We are a very creative community; if we do this, we can help them grow and sustain their businesses. They say that the lifespan of a small business is five years; I don’t believe that. I think that if we obtain more tools, we can prolong it,” she says.
Corissa is dedicated to her businesses, @houseofxelas, @nativohlp, and @legacyfullcircle. She is also involved in community work with various organizations and participates in workshops at Homeboy Industries. Her knowledge and experience are a source of wealth for the community.
“When I started working, I worked as a teacher, and I missed that. So, when I was invited to participate in the Homeboy Industries finance program, I didn’t think twice, I said YES. Giving young people the opportunity to learn finances is incredible, telling them that just because they are young, they should not feel left out. Then they tell me about their dreams; some want to open a clothing store, others a tattoo shop, others a food business. So we review what they need and the possibilities. One of the problems in our community is the lack of having a business plan, and I share that with them,” says this educator and activist.
“We need to share with our people our experiences, the resources that are out there. We are a very creative community; if we do this, we can help them grow and sustain their businesses”
For her, financial education is not a luxury but a right.
“Many think that providing a financial education is a luxury, but it is a right of our community,” she says. “If we don’t help our community, we wont see change.”
She inherited that spirit from her parents. They always told her that it wasn’t so much about what she could have, but what she could give.
For her, small businesses’ main challenges are the lack of information, the absence of a business plan, and financing. That’s why she insists on knowing about the vast number of existing grants that are out there.
Another problem is gentrification. The owners of commercial spaces don’t make it easy for business owners, forcing them to close or move.
Corissa doesn’t share her financial workshops or information as a way to feel powerful but because of her admiration for the Latino community, for their resilience in the face of all obstacles.
In a previous interview last year, she told Parriva it pained her to see what was happening with Boyle Heights, especially after the pandemic. The closure of businesses, evictions, and people’s inability to pay their rent. A year later, she shares her vision with us.
“It’s still like that. It’s painful to see what’s happening. The construction of luxury housing seems to be on hold, but I think it’s only temporary. The problem will persist. To change things, we need everyone to participate; we can’t wait for someone from the outside to come and fix it. That’s why financial information is key, so they have the opportunity to create and maintain their businesses,” she adds.
Corissa doesn’t share her workshops or information as a way to feel powerful but because of her admiration for the Latino community, for their resilience in the face of all obstacles.
“I share the information organically, for the East Side. It’s motivating for me when one of these women from our community comes up to me and says how inspiring the information they received was. thats when I say, ‘it’s worth it,’” she says.
All this work and the different activities she undertakes sometimes leave her fatigued, but thanks to the support of her team, she has been able to keep moving forward.
“There are ups and downs, like everything. I have to reserve my own space for my personal care. I hide, mornings are very important to me. I meditate, exercise, walk my dog, talk with my husband. They may be simple things, but they are what help me. If I’m well, I have the opportunity to help others. Sometimes I tell myself, ‘I didn’t sign up for this.’ But then I come back stronger,” she says.
Last year, she was appointed to the Building and Safety Commission, another stronghold where she says, ‘I can help Boyle Heights.’
She thinks that having a positive attitude is very important.
“Telling yourself, ‘everything will be fine’ is important, believing it. It has been a very exciting journey, seeing everything good that happens, seeing the transformation of the community she works with,” she concludes.
