The sharp, clean scent of lavender and jasmine lingers in the air as Gracie stands behind her table, fielding questions and managing the growing crowd gathered around her handcrafted soaps at the 2025 Women of Hope’s Beauty, Bubbles & Bites fundraiser.
It’s her second time selling here – and her growth is evident.
Gracie is a 15-year-old entrepreneur and after-school program participant from the Rancho Verde affordable housing community, who turned a quiet hobby into a thriving micro-business with Hope through Housing’s help.
“This is something that I probably wouldn’t be able to do if I wasn’t in the after-school program,” Gracie said. “With people behind me, I can think of the future, like maybe an online business, but this is just the beginning.”
Gracie learned soap-making from her mother, Isabel, who does it as a pastime. She began taking samples to school and eagerly shared her new venture with Hope through Housing Youth Program Manager Tairen Kessee-Broadway.
Inspired by Gracie’s passion, Tairen helped her take the next step – securing a spot at the fundraiser to showcase her products.
“I wanted to give her the platform to learn what being an entrepreneur means,” Tairen said. “We are investing in her future and, in the long run, this will help her to become stronger financially.”
With Hope through Housing’s support, Gracie received supplies, such as molds, essential oils and display materials and custom signage. Her hard work paid off – this year she made $560 in sales at the fundraiser, a $100 jump from last year’s total.
Gracie uses her earnings to buy personal hygiene products and help support her family, which includes her single mother and four siblings.
“My parents provide what they can, but there are things that I would like that they can’t afford,” she said.
The after-school program has been a part of Gracie’s life since she was 5. Her four older siblings – and now her younger one – have also benefited from the program, which has become a vital support system for Isabel works late shifts at AM/PM.
“Because of the after-school program, we’ve had help with back-to-school shopping and Gracie has been able to start selling her soaps,” Isabel said. “I’m proud of her. She’s learning how to manage money and believe in herself.”
Research shows that entrepreneurship helps children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and resourcefulness – skills that extend far beyond financial literacy. Gracie’s story has already inspired others in the after-school program to think about their own futures and how they might carve out a path of their own.
“Gracie is an example of when you invest in a child, not only do they succeed but they pay it forward,” Tairen said. “Hopefully she inspires the next generation that comes under her.”