PASEFIKA BOSS UP - 2024 SUMMER SESSION - WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!

PASEFIKA BOSS UP is a Summer Enrichment, Career Technical Education (CTE) Entrepreneurship Program that aims to support, empower & foster the future generation of Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander entrepreneurs in San Mateo County.   The program will introduce participants to the basic steps & skills needed to launch & maintain their own business. Learners will participate in Project-based, hands-on learning and meet Pasefika Business professionals.

PASEFIKA BOSS UP is open to Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Youth in 7th - 12th grade who live/work/go to school in the San Francisco, Bay Area. 

THIS SUMMER, 9 of our Pasefika Boss Up Youth completed the program, all successfully launching their businesses at the August 2024 Nesian Night Market. Youth created their own sweet treats, floats, coasters and resin keychains/coasters. 

To help these bosses prepare, our bosses complete our 4 week project based Pasefika Boss Up curriculum breaking down each component of starting a business from conception to launch. They are also paired with a mentor for one on one development. In addition, we welcomed 4 local Pasefika Business owners to our Pasefika Fireside, a component of the program that allows our young bosses an intimate setting to interview Business owners who they can directly relate with. In addition, our Bosses took 2 work based learning trips. The first allowed them to visit the Oakland Swap Meet, Dope Era store front and the Ferry Building market place. On this trip, they observed the different types of business models and consumer base. They learned about how Dope Era owner Mistah F.A.B. adopted a business model that is centered around Black culture and uplifts the Black community. They took a look at the overall appeal of the pop up booths/store fronts to help them visualize their own setup for launch day. The second work based trip, they visited The Coterie Den, located in the heart of San Jose's Japan Town. Here they learned first hand from the Creative founders about how to cultivate the business culture they wanted to see in San Jose. They discussed business strategies, event planning AND had the wonderful opportunity to create content alongside the Pasifika In Focus youth in the space. All our youth also had an opportunity to walk the different storefronts in Japan Town where they also had an opportunity to speak with the co-owner of Headliners a hat and apparel show My Nguyen. My shared a bit of history behind the store and the growth it has had over the last 13 years. Their last stop on this trip, was to MOMENT JTOWN, this storefront offered our youth a unique and strategic look at a micro-retail space model. The retail store is home to four artists all who sare the large retail storefront. It was a great alternative business layout for our young bosses to explore. 

Stay tuned for our Summer 2025 program details!

IN THE NEWS 

Check out this article about the program featured in San Mateo County Daily Journal - CLICK TO READ