{"id":22,"date":"2023-09-24T22:20:53","date_gmt":"2023-09-24T22:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dvc.mycareerfocus.org\/winter-2023-volume-6-issue-2\/make-it-your-business\/"},"modified":"2023-11-15T18:56:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T18:56:10","slug":"fueling-success-eso-ventures-and-dvc-entrepreneurship-classes-empower-students-with-confidence-competence-and-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dvc.mycareerfocus.org\/winter-2023-volume-6-issue-2\/fueling-success-eso-ventures-and-dvc-entrepreneurship-classes-empower-students-with-confidence-competence-and-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"Fueling Success: ESO Ventures and DVC Entrepreneurship Classes Empower Students with Confidence, Competence, and Capital"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhen I was working my very first job in the insurance industry, I got a devastating call from my mom. She told me she had cancer,\u201d said Johanna Arroliga, insurance\/real estate agent owner of XIX Insurance Group Services. <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u201cImmediately life changed for me. As a 25-year-old, I became my mom\u2019s caregiver while working full time. I needed to work to help with the cost of treatment, but I also needed to be physically present to help my mom fight cancer,\u201d said Arroliga.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

When her mother passed, Arroliga resented not being able to do more for her. She felt frustrated that she had to ask her manager for time off to take her to chemotherapy. She was even more upset that she had to request time off to attend the funeral. \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI vowed to never work for someone again,\u201d said Arroliga.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The freedom to grow<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Johanna<\/p>\n

Arroliga knew she wanted to start her own business. She credits the community college system for preparing her and her husband for their entrepreneurship journey. She graduated from Contra Costa College (DVC\u2019s sister college, CCC) with three associate degrees, as well as her insurance and real estate licenses. She launched her business in 2018. More recently, she completed an entrepreneurship class at DVC, and is in the process of earning a bachelor\u2019s degree at UC Berkeley.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBy 2023, my business had survived wildfires, COVID, and other challenges. The office grew enough for my husband to leave his stable job of nine years to get licensed and work with me. He also earned an associate degree from CCC. The set of skills we acquired for free through the community college system has been an integral part of our journey,\u201d said Arroliga.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Arroliga initially started the business only selling insurance under Johanna Arroliga Farmers Insurance Agency. She later launched XIX Insurance Group Services. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a bilingual insurance agent, I offer insurance, Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) services, notary services, fingerprinting, real estate, and business formation services. I\u2019m passionate about making entrepreneurship accessible by educating my customers while also strengthening my financial literacy skills,\u201d said Arroliga.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Arroliga\u2019s desire to grow her own knowledge and skill led her to participate in a business incubator program specifically designed to support and lift Black and Brown entrepreneurs. In 2022, the Bay Area Community College Consortium (BACCC) partnered with ESO Ventures to bring the incubator to six local community colleges, including DVC and CCC. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe collaboration enables underserved populations to access quality, culturally relevant entrepreneurship training free of charge. It also provides certificate opportunities for continued growth, and aligns entrepreneurs with other community resources,\u201d said Derene Allen Hinchliff, business administration faculty and lead for the DVC ESO Ventures Incubator Program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a first-generation business owner, starting my business felt like I chose to build a plane on my way down AFTER jumping off the cliff. ESO Ventures and the DVC entrepreneurship class came along at a time for me when I was seeking help with my plane. I wanted to fly, to soar higher. I was excited to find that there was an opportunity for people like me to get help with tools, resources, coaching, and capital,\u201d said Arroliga.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe ESO Ventures incubator program provides participants with the confidence, competence, and capital to take their early-stage business idea to the next level through a 10-module online program with business coaching that culminates in a summit where the community is invited,\u201d said Hinchliff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Arroliga is grateful to the ESO Ventures program and has referred others to enroll.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are providing people in underserved and overlooked communities with so many resources and opportunities. It motivates me to set plans into action and do more to contribute to the community as well. What they are doing is changing and impacting lives,\u201d said Arroliga.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more, visit ESO Ventures \u2013 Diablo Valley College<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Entrepreneurship at DVC<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

DVC offers a wide selection of high-quality business management and business entrepreneurship courses and programs throughout the year. Multiple degree and certificate offerings are available with focus areas in accounting, management, marketing, and real estate. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Music<\/p>\n

\u201cDVC recently created a dedicated business entrepreneurship program to focus on helping students achieve their educational goals in starting and growing new businesses. Several disciplines now have entrepreneurship-related offerings including culinary arts, horticulture, kinesiology, and music industry studies, so that students can learn skills enabling them to be more successful in launching their own business,\u201d said Mariam Worsham, business administration faculty at DVC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition to for-credit courses, DVC has many other entrepreneurship initiatives for students to learn more, including an annual \u00a0Piranha PoolTM<\/sup> Pitch Competition where students pitch their ideas to judges for cash prizes. We also offer biweekly workshops and speakers under the \u201cBusiness Beyond the Classroom\u201d as well as the Entrepreneur in You\u201d video series, Career Launchpad classes, and of course the entrepreneurship class focused on Black and Brown entrepreneurs as part of our joint-venture with ESO Ventures,\u201d said Worsham.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johanna Arroliga strongly encourages students and community members to consider launching their own business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite part about being an entrepreneur is having ownership of my time. I can make the money I need to build wealth, while also having the flexibility to choose what I put my energy towards and do the things that I care about,\u201d said Arroliga.<\/span><\/p>\n

To find out more about the entrepreneurship program at DVC, visit business management<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Launch or Grow Your Own Business with a Certificate or Degree in Entrepreneurship<\/span><\/h2>\n

Degrees <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n