Dreams rarely fail due to a lack of talent; they are often put on hold by a lack of guidance, resources, or simply because no one ever explained where to begin.
That’s exactly what Barbara Teresa Cabrera and her daughter, Theresa Michelle Matos, experienced. For a long time, they dreamed of turning their passion for cooking into a business, but a lack of knowledge about licenses, permits, state regulations, and financial management kept that project tucked away in family conversations and good intentions.
Until Enterprising Latinas came along. What began as a search for information on selling desserts ended up becoming a complete transformation of their lives.
“We started out thinking only about learning how to legally sell sweets, and we ended up creating an events and catering company,” Cabrera recalls with a smile that reveals the pride of someone who has come a long way.
Today, Around the Table Events and Catering is a reality. It has a business name, a visual identity, a legal structure, clients, and a growth plan, but above all, it represents the dream of a mother who wanted her daughter to build her own entrepreneurial future.
Cabrera worked for years as a nurse until the COVID-19 pandemic radically changed her life. The illness prevented her from continuing her profession. Her daughter is studying nursing, but she shares an inherited passion: cooking.
That’s when they decided to go all in on this family project; however, they soon discovered that starting a business in the United States requires much more than enthusiasm.
They had to incorporate a company, register an LLC, understand tax obligations, learn about marketing, develop a financial plan, and learn how the business system works.
This unfamiliar world began to make sense thanks to the support of Enterprising Latinas.
“They didn’t just teach us the legal aspects. We learned financial fundamentals, marketing, the internet, how to structure a business, and how to do it correctly. They changed our lives,” says Cabrera.
But the support didn’t end with graduation. The organization continues to connect its entrepreneurs with banks, financial specialists, and experienced businesspeople to further strengthen each project.
“That support never ends. They keep calling us, they keep in touch, and they continue to help us grow,” she affirms.
Barbara’s story perfectly reflects the philosophy that has driven Enterprising Latinas for years: creating real economic opportunities for people who, often, simply need guidance to turn an idea into a sustainable business.
Much more than a nonprofit organization
Behind each graduation ceremony are 12 months of intensive work. Elizabeth Gutiérrez, founder and director of Enterprising Latinas, explains that each graduating class represents the culmination of a full year of training designed to empower both new entrepreneurs and those seeking to enter new industries.
“We organize training for entrepreneurs, English language students, and people interested in construction, restaurants, renewable energy, and many other areas. We want people to understand that they can succeed,” she says.
The organization was founded with a clear vision: to open pathways to economic prosperity for those who have historically had less access to opportunities.
Although its name refers to Latina women, its reach is much broader.
“We work with the Hispanic market, but also with men, young people, and entire families. What truly interests us is that the entire Tampa Bay area grows and becomes a prosperous community for everyone,” Gutiérrez explains.
This commitment has made Enterprising Latinas a meeting point for hundreds of people who want to start a business, improve their job skills, or prepare themselves to access better employment opportunities.
Training that opens doors
At the Wimauma location, one of the area’s most populous Hispanic communities, Georgina Romero, the center’s manager, sees firsthand how education can become a tool to change a family’s future.
The programs range from English to construction, occupational safety, and heavy equipment operation. Upon completion of the training, participants receive certifications highly valued by employers.
“Many students earn OSHA certifications in industrial safety, heavy equipment operation, and forklift operation. These documents strengthen their professional development,” professional profile and allow them to access better job opportunities, says Romero.
But the support doesn’t end there. The best business plans receive financial incentives aimed at fostering the creation of new companies.
Thanks to the support of banks, institutions, and sponsors, the three top-rated business projects receive prizes of $500, $300, and $200, respectively.
The selection of winners rests entirely with the sponsors, ensuring transparency in the process.
“It serves as an extra source of motivation for those who have spent months developing their business ideas,” notes Romero.
A driving force for communities
The stories that emerge from Enterprising Latinas share a common thread: they all begin with uncertainty and end with hope.
There are aspiring contractors who now hold professional certifications, entrepreneurs who learned to create financial plans, restaurant owners who formalized their businesses, tax specialists who strengthened their companies, and mothers who discovered they could launch a business without neglecting their children.
These are people who arrived without English proficiency and now possess the tools to navigate the U.S. business world with greater confidence. Barbara sums it up better than any statistic could:
“Many dreams remain on hold simply due to a lack of information. We didn’t realize so many opportunities were right within reach. Enterprising Latinas was the driving force we needed to discover our potential.”
Her message is aimed at those who are still hesitating to take that first step: “You are missing out on a great opportunity. Here, there are people who work with passion—people who teach, guide, and continue to support you even after you graduate.”
“We made a dream come true thanks to them.”
Perhaps that is the greatest lesson this organization leaves behind, because behind every certificate, every business plan, and every new company lies something much deeper: the conviction that entrepreneurship can become a powerful tool to transform lives, strengthen families, and build more resilient communities.
And in the Tampa Bay area, Enterprising Latinas has spent years demonstrating that when knowledge combines with solidarity and guidance, dreams cease to be mere possibilities and instead become businesses, jobs, and new opportunities for prosperity.