Sunday, April 23, 2023 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 10 SPONSORED CONTENT PROVIDED BY SPICE BRIDGE For many refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs wanting to start their own business, it can be extremely difficult to know where to begin. The process can be daunting for anyone, and this particular demographic has to deal with roadblocks such as navigating the workings of a new city and country and, in most cases, communicating in a nonnative language. Obstacles can range from devising a business plan and learning how to market to current audiences, to finding licensing for available business spaces and dealing with rising food costs and overall inflation. For any budding business owner, having the right resources can be key to starting a profitable business — and sustaining it. In turn, when local communities are able to support refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs, everyone benefits from the cultural and culinary additions. Not only do visitors enjoy trying dining experiences that might be brand-new to them, but culturally relevant foods also help strengthen local ties. Furthermore, a fortified community can better support those experiencing food insecurity, which many consider to be the new pandemic threatening our cities. (According to a recent report released by King County Department of Health, the number of people experiencing food insecurity here is on the rise.) Local organizations have found various ways to help tackle this issue, and Spice Bridge is a not-for-profit business incubator taking a unique approach that aims to support immigrants, refugees and people of color with the desire to launch food businesses. Spice Bridge, a project of nonprofit Global to Local, offers affordable commercial retail space and shared Familiar foods and traditions build community connections Spice Bridge is home to Food Innovation Network’s Food Business Incubator program, a G2L program which helps South King County BIPOC and immigrants start and grow thriving businesses. Spice Bridge helps build food security in our community. Learn more at spicebridge.org. resources at a cultural food hall — featuring global flavors like Ethiopian, Mexican, Filipino fusion, Afghani, Congolese, Middle Eastern and more — in Tukwila Village. They also manage a community meals program that gives businesses a chance to refine their menus and sharpen business practices. The Spice Bridge team is excited about a new addition, Chef Jolorene GuzmanMohamad, who offers a delicious blend of Southeast Asian fusion cuisine at Jolorene's Kitchen, a fast favorite among customers. “I feel so honored that as an entrepreneur,” she says, “I can start my business and also contribute to making a difference in the community through all the wonderful work this program does. It made me feel reassured that this was meant to be the next big step for me in growing my business.” Guzman-Mohamad has found the mentorship from the leadership team of the Spice Bridge incubator program to be the most helpful. “They provide helpful resources for small business entrepreneurs to be successful such as guidance with business operations, catering opportunities, digital marketing and community and local exposure,” she says. Overall, the organization aims to locally help build healthy communities, which they define as “those that have physical wellbeing, equitable and patientcentered medical care, culturally relevant and appropriate food, and the opportunity to take charge of their health and overall well-being.” They also want to help create communities that are autonomous and supportive of each other in all aspects, including financial and academic. Last year, their chefs cooked 10,000 free meals that were distributed to food-insecure members of the community, tripling their number from 2021. These organizations emphasize making an impact in their immediate surroundings. At Spice Bridge, many seniors visit their markets regularly and benefit from meal programs. (Free meals and local produce vouchers allow them to eat healthy, culturally relevant foods without worrying about fixed incomes.) The organization has also helped the International Rescue Committee feed Afghan refugees resettling in Washington, and provided a space for local refugee and immigrant farmers to sell their produce and earn a living through economic independence. Organizations such as Spice Bridge find it important to be culturally responsive to the community they serve. This food hall, for example, provides healthy food options that respond to the diversity of their clientele in South King County and beyond. The space also regularly hosts events and activities that engage community members and promote cultural exchange, like regular poetry readings by refugees and immigrants from the Stories of Arrival Project at Foster High School. Says Guzman-Mohamad, “Spice Bridge Food Hall helps showcase diverse cuisines and allows business entrepreneurs a space to create and serve cultural dishes from their native homes, all in one space for the community to try.” Jolorene Guzman Mohamad, owner of Jolorene’s Kitchen at Spice Bridge Food Hall. (Holli Margell – Native Light Photo) Donate today! Food Innovation Network staff member Sheelan Shamdeen, delivering free meals to community members. (Emilio Cerrillo photo)
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