Community Innovation Hub Uplifts Latinx Voices for Latinx Heritage Month
Cal Poly Pomona’s in Downtown Pomona welcomed a crowd of over 40 community members on Sept. 17 for Cafe y Conversaciones, an engaging event highlighting Latinx Heritage Month. Seven Latinx entrepreneurs and community leaders shared their experiences, insights, and reflections on the impact of small businesses and the role of cultural identity in shaping entrepreneurship.
During this discussion, panelists emphasized the importance of small businesses as community anchors, providing essential services, creating jobs, and serving as spaces where culture and tradition are preserved. They also addressed the many challenges that Latinx entrepreneurs face, which include navigating access to resources, funding, and systematic barriers. The conversation also highlighted how entrepreneurship is an avenue for resilience and cultural affirmation through the blending of both innovation and heritage.
Bianca Ustrell-Friend, Director of Operations at , spoke about the need to rethink how communities define wealth.
“I wanted to highlight the importance of alterative economies and the need to redefine what community wealth means,” she said. “Solidarity within our community is essential, and we should all be having these conversations and working together to create a community by us and for us.”
For Rosa Mora Perez, owner of , community support is central to her work and the ability to remain committed to her customers.
“The support I get from my community allows me to keep my prices stable and accessible even when everything is so expensive,” she said.
Other panelists echoed the call for solidarity while noting that entrepreneurship within the Latinx community is not just about economic success, but about creating systems for support and opportunity that affirm identity and strength as a community.
Cafe y Conversaciones not only spotlighted entrepreneurial spirit within the local Latinx community, but also reinforced the Hub’s mission to serve as a space for connection, innovation, and dialogue. The Hub creates space for conversations impacting the local community, affirming the richness of Latinx identity and celebrating its role in shaping communities both local and beyond.
For more information about the Community Innovation Hub, visit the or contact them directly at thehub@cpp.edu.
As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Poly Pomona proudly celebrates Latinx Heritage Month and the experiences, leadership, and impact of our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Read more stories about our community on 六色网 News. Show your Bronco pride by using our new this month.