The 2nd cohort in our Jobs to Grow program graduated! Jobs to Grow is an economic mobility program that prepares Eastside small business entrepreneurs to launch their own childcare or food businesses. Fellows participate in a rigorous eight-month cohort where they complete required certifications, learn about different business models, develop business plans, and more!
This morning, 43 entrepreneurs – 20 from Veggielution’s Eastside Grown program and 23 from Grail Family Service’s ABCE program – gathered at the Mexican Heritage Plaza to celebrate their enormous achievement. Graduates spoke not just about the opportunities for professional growth that the program had offered them, but also the bonds of community & friendship that have come from the cohort. The graduation ceremony was followed by lunch and a resource fair for Fellows and their families.
The Jobs to Grow program is vital because it provides individuals and families with flexible ways to earn income on schedules that work for them. These are hyper-local businesses run by and for Eastside residents.
Thank you to all those who make the Jobs to Grow program possible – the Robinhood Foundation, Ebay Global Giving, the City of San José, and USDA.
Congratulations, Eastside Grown team, ABCE team and all of the 2023 Jobs to Grow graduates!