In this episode of The Voices of Business, hosts Corey Nathan and Joshua Maddux sit down with David Heredia, the founder of Heroes of Color. David shares his inspiring journey from growing up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan to becoming an accomplished entrepreneur, artist, and advocate for diversity in media and education. His passion for representation and empowerment led to the creation of Heroes of Color, an organization dedicated to highlighting stories of diverse historical figures and empowering young creatives through entrepreneurial programs.

What You Will Learn:

• How David Heredia transitioned from working in advertising and animation to founding Heroes of Color.
• The challenges David faced advocating for diversity in educational content and how he overcame them.
• Insights into building a successful creative business and negotiating fair contracts.
• How David's personal experiences inspired his educational programs and children's book, Little Heroes of Color.
• The importance of representation in media and how it impacts identity and self-worth.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:04:16] David's early dream of working in comic books and his challenging internship at Marvel.
• [00:06:39] Leaving a successful advertising job to pursue a more fulfilling career in animation.
• [00:11:25] The spontaneous pitch that led to a book deal with Scholastic and how David negotiated better contract terms.
• [00:23:31] David's personal experiences with discrimination and how they inspired Heroes of Color.
• [00:27:00] How David's daughter's experiences in school influenced his mission to create diverse educational content.
• [00:46:33] Launching the Junior Artrepreneurs program to teach students business and creative skills.
• [00:53:22] The measurable impact of entrepreneurship programs on student confidence and personal growth.

Featured Quotes:

• "Choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." – David Heredia
• "Representation isn't just important—it's necessary. It shapes how we see ourselves and how others see us." – David Heredia
• "When you have security, you negotiate differently. That's when you know your worth." – David Heredia
• "Art has the power to unite, separate, and change how we think and treat people." – David Heredia

Resources Mentioned:

• Heroes of Color Website: heroesofcolor.com
• David Heredia on LinkedIn: David Heredia
• Little Heroes of Color by David Heredia – Available on Amazon
• The Freelance Hustle – David's guide for creative entrepreneurs

Call to Action:

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend who would be inspired by David's journey. Your support helps more listeners discover stories like David's and join the conversation about business, creativity, and community.

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