SEPTEMBER SUNSHINE SNAPSHOT
Fall CBA is Underway
Our signature, intensive 12-week Community Business Academy (CBA) started with orientation for approximately 146 attendees the end of August. This fall we are offering entrepreneurial classes on the Southside, Westside, and Northside plus specialty-focused classes in Construction Trades, Arts and Makers, and Technology & Digital. The amount of work that goes into not only getting ready for CBA but launching and operating the program is truly amazing. Our Sunshine team even holds in-person simulation training to get our instructors ready for the new session.
Sunshine Social
The kickoff event for our fall Community Business Academy "Sunshine Social" was a success! We welcomed new CBA students, thanked Sunshine staff and instructors and celebrated alums. The best part was being able to showcase alumni and their businesses who participated in the Social... VENDORS Soap Junkii Bath + Body, Kingston James & Co., Platinum Medical Staffing LLC, Ángel González - The Reader’s Spa; CATERERS The Sole Ingredient Corporate Catering LLC, Healthy Substance; VENUE Studio 2226; PHOTOGRAPHER Kristy Ramsey.
Black Women’s Expo
The 28th Annual Black Women's Expo that was held August 4 - 6 at McCormick Place was a dynamic and inspiring event that brought together a number of Sunshine Entrepreneurs who showcased their products and services. The BWE marketplace was a great opportunity to explore a wide range of innovative products, network with other entrepreneurs and share business journeys on how women pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Alum Jittaun Priest and Sip & Savor Event
We are very proud of our Community Business Academy alum Jittaun Priest (Brushworks) who has once again partnered with Sip & Savor Coffeehouse to create an amazing interior for their newest location soon to be opening in Edgewater at 1070 W. Bryn Mahr Ave. Check out more of Jittaun's beautiful work at brushworksdesign.com.
Alum Dana Todd Pope and Women’s Live Artist Studio
Sunshine alum Dana Todd Pope was recently featured on WTTW CH 11 along with Women’s Live Artist Studio co-founder Martha Wade. These amazing entrepreneurs founded the permanent art exhibition that opened earlier this summer inside Navy Pier. It consists of work by primarily Black and Brown female artists from the Chicagoland area. Watch the news story here.
The Women’s Live Artist Studio features the artwork and products of local Chicago women artists and makers who paint live at Navy Pier, giving visitors a window inside the creative process. Each day features a new artist right next door to the Chicago Children’s Museum.
Vanessa Arroyo
Congratulations to our Site Monitor Vanessa Arroyo who was recently featured in the South Side Weekly and on WGN TV Channel 9’s Spotlight Chicago series! Watch her inspiring story here.