Made Here: Small business stories and conversations with entrepreneurs

In spite of the recognition she’s received from her industry, one would say that Lachelle Cunningham’s journey as a chef is unconventional, especially compared to her peers. She began her culinary career by launching Chelles’ Kitchen in 2012 and soon became known for her work as the founding Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe in North Minneapolis, where she received many accolades for her food creativity and social justice work.  

To learn more about Lachelle's work, visit lachellecunningham.com/healthy-roots-institute

--

Michea Rahman, a native Houstonian, is a speech-language pathologist who owns and runs Children’s Language Center, a clinic that provides pediatric speech therapy services to children in a positive and nurturing environment.

To learn more about Children’s Language Center, visit www.childrenslanguagecenter.com

--

Shelley Green's path as a small business owner took a while to shape. Transitioning from a career in consulting, Shelley now proudly owns The Green Corner Store located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Green Corner Store is a market that supports local makers, artisans, and micro-businesses that sell quality products that make our lives greener, safer and healthier. The Green Corner Store is a certified business of The Green Business Network, a program of Green America — the nation’s leading nonprofit in growing the green economy.

To learn more about Green Corner Store, visit www.thegreencornerstore.com

--

This week's guest is a go-getter mom who runs Honey Hush Boutique, a store selling stylish clothes and vintage home items and gifts in Bogota, Texas. Shelly Evans decided to remodel an old bank building and turn it into a store that she now runs with her daughter Lacey.  

To learn more about Honey Hush Boutique, visit www.honeyhushstore.com

--

Tyson Toussant and Tim Coombs are the co-founders of BIONIC, a mission-driven material engineering company that addresses ocean plastic pollution in marine and coastal environments. BIONIC engineers fully traceable high-grade textiles made with coastal and marine plastic.

To learn more about BIONIC, visit www.bionicyarn.com

--

When we think about our favorite subject in school or why we loved going to class, we sometimes associate our fondness for learning with teachers we love, much like this week's guest, Maria Ure. Moving from Argentina to the United States in the mid-80s, Maria saw a huge need in language learning — a program that would captivate students at a young age. From teaching Spanish to a small group of students, Maria has now taught over 6,000 students. Today, she continues to make an impact as the Founder and Director of Spanish in Action, a language school located in Manhattan Beach, California.

To learn more about Spanish in Action, visit spanishinaction.com

--

This week’s episode features husband and wife and owners of Buenos Dias Café, Ken and Jeanette Katz. In 2012, Ken and Jeanette opened the doors to their restaurant in Atlanta, a place that eventually became a second home for students and faculty in that area. Buenos Dias Café is a quick-service restaurant that serves fresh, authentic cuisine inspired by Jeannette’s childhood in El Salvador and the distinct Latin communities in which they have both lived. Growing up, Jeannette observed women having a harder time receiving help and being taken seriously when launching a business. This understanding motivates Jeannette and Ken to actively welcome entrepreneurs who are single moms, as well as partner with nonprofits to employ individuals transitioning from homelessness.

To learn more about Buenos Dias Café, visit www.buenosdiascafe.com

--

Kay Luttrell joined the US Navy straight out of high school. While going through personal challenges that took a toll on her mental health, Kay found solace in lighting and making scented candles. Her hobby eventually turned into Unlax Candles, a company selling high-quality and hand-poured scented candles that Kay hopes will be a part of her customer’s relaxation routine and meditative state. In this episode, Kay shares how her business grew tenfold since it launched in December 2019. We discuss the impact of business mentorship and how she manifests items on her vision board into reality! She also talks to me about finding a balance between two important roles: a business owner and an active duty military member.

--

Is there a difference between being an educator and being a teacher? Our next guest, Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, believes there is. Dr. Key is the CEO and Founder of the Village Market, an Atlanta-based organization that empowers Black entrepreneurs through business development trainings, marketplaces, and community engagement.

--

Today's episode is a little different because our featured guest is based in the UK. Originally from North-Eastern Syria, Sulaiman Othoman is a journalist and broadcaster with more than 17 years of experience in the industry, particularly in the Middle East. He is the founder of Caravel Magazine, an independent art, heritage, and culture digital magazine, designed to be a window that explores the richness of Middle Eastern and North African creativity. In this episode, we talk to Sulaiman about the different cultures he was exposed to, how he fought his way out of a system that didn’t foster entrepreneurship, and how he is now able to fulfill his mission of giving a platform for other artists and storytellers just like himself.

--