Our Mission
Our mission is to dismantle obstacles, transcend boundaries, and inspire women of color to bring their fempreneurial visions to life by providing educational resources, tools, and networking opportunities.
Our History
Fempreneur Poder Hub was founded in 2023 by two women of color who are mothers & entrepreneurs. In the vibrant landscape of American enterprise, the National Women’s Business Council's 2022 Annual Report shines a spotlight on the trailblazing impact of women entrepreneurs, with a remarkable 1.2 million employee-based businesses flying under the banner of female ownership—accounting for a striking 20.9% of this business sector. Yet, amidst this celebration, a sobering disparity emerges for women of color.
Guidant Financial's 2022 Women in Business Trends report paints a contrasting picture: out of all the female respondents, a mere 9% were Black, 2% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and another 2% Indigenous American women—signaling a retreat from the previous year’s promise of increasing diversity, potentially a casualty of the pandemic's far-reaching shadows.
The tapestry of data weaves a narrative of resilience and ambition for Latine and Black women, who stand as some of the most educated demographics in the nation, fervently climbing the academic ladder to secure a future of professional triumph and economic breakthrough. Yet, these aspirations come at a steep cost, with the lack of inherited wealth leaving many burdened by a mountain of student debt. This burden is only intensified by a wage gap that saw Chicago's women earning 81% of what their male counterparts made in 2019, as per The Pew Research Center.
In the face of such systemic economic barriers, many of these determined women of color continue to bolster their credentials, hoping to level the financial playing field. Despite their qualifications and drive, they often encounter the insidious barriers of racial and gender bias, sidelining them from the high-paying roles and promotions they deserve, perpetuating a cycle of debt and diminished earnings.
It’s against this backdrop that the Fempreneur Poder Hub emerges, born from the real-life challenges its founders have navigated. This initiative is poised to unlock new doors for up-and-coming and established women entrepreneurs alike. With a suite of membership opportunities on the horizon, the hub is dedicated to weaving a strong fabric of professional networks and providing invaluable educational resources. The mission is clear: to empower women of color to elevate their business savvy and claim their rightful place at the forefront of entrepreneurial success in the City of Chicago.
Meet The Team- Board of Directors
Jessica Cuevas, Founder of Viva La Mami, LLC
Jessica Cuevas, the Founder and Creator of Viva la Mami, LLC, is a podcaster, coach, and community builder. Once Jessica became a mom in 2021, she noticed a lack of representation of Latinas in the motherhood space. She created this platform after seeing negative stereotypes of the Latina mom online and on social media. Coming from an educational background, Jessica felt the need for Latina moms to share their stories and for Latina professionals to share their expertise so that moms can be better informed about the nuances of Latina motherhood. Since 2022, Jessica has created a podcast and community of modern Latina moms who are reclaiming or following their culture all while mothering in a modern world. She's on a mission to help moms redefine the meaning of madrehood through education and storytelling from a culturally-relevant lens. Jessica helps modern moms find their own path of madrehood and is striving to change the narrative of what the internet and te media perceives Latina moms to be.
Jessica resides in Chicago with her high school sweetheart and two boys who are currently 3 and under. Not only is she a mompreneur and stay-at-home mom, but she continues her passion in college access where she works part-time as a College Counselor at a non-for-profit organization in Chicago.
Araceli Morales, M.A.
Araceli has been engaged in Public Service for over a decade and recently was the first Hispanic Latinx Employment Plan Coordinator for the State of Illinois. Araceli Morales earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and a Master of Arts in Latino Cultural Studies from Northeastern Illinois University.
As a coordinator, she served as a liaison with the Hispanic Advisory Council of Illinois and other human resources offices of state agencies by maintaining open lines of communication.
Consulted with minority advocacy groups seeking to encourage participation and support of professional forums within the community. Prepared the Executive Summary and supporting documentation of the activities of the State Hispanic Employment Plan, and participated in the drafting, as well as the final preparation of the Annual Report, which is presented to the General Assembly. She utilized data and met with representatives from various state agencies to determine areas of underutilization. Araceli is now working with the Immigrant and Refugee Bureau at the Illinois Department of Human Services, managing and monitoring contracts designed to help newly arriving refugees and low-income immigrants
across the state. In addition to her full-time employment, she is also an ESL/Citizenship instructor at City Colleges of Chicago—Truman. Although she grew up in the city of Chicago, as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Araceli
Morales has also lived abroad in Mexico and South Korea. She takes pride in her heritage and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with her family and two-year-old Husky.
Samantha Royal, CircEsteem
Samantha Royal, 27, is a proud Gringa-Chilanga who graduated with honors in Communication Sciences from the Universidad Tecnológica de México in 2018. During her College years, she
specialized in internal communication, working with renowned companies such as Chevrolet, Abarrotes Casa Vargas, and Mundo Joven Group. From 2015 to mid-2020, she focused on enhancing employee well-being and their journeys on both national and international levels,
covering Mexico, Colombia, and Canada.
In March 2020, Samantha joined her family's business, Royal Sheet Metal, as the Human Resources Manager, where she skillfully managed employee administration and business development. In 2021, she transitioned to the non-profit sector, taking on the role of
Outreach Coordinator at the Citizens Utility Board of Illinois (CUB), a position she held until 2023.
Samantha's commitment to community service is evident through her participation as an invited representative at Fiesta del Sol 2022 and her role as Environmental Justice Co-Chair
at Fiesta del Sol 2023 in Pilsen, Chicago. Since mid-2023, she has been working with CircEsteem, where she coordinates programs that benefit the youth and community of Gage Park, Chicago, through My Chi, My Future. With a strong background in print and digital communication strategies, public relations, and event planning, Samantha brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her work.
Proud of her Mexican heritage, she carries the legacy of the great Tenochtitlán with pride.
Jarol Jonathan Rendon Jimenez, Community Engagement Program Manager at mHUB
Jarol is a Chicago native who grew up on the West Side. He’s the Community Engagement Program Manager at mHUB. His passion for community building and organizing has allowed him to develop strong relationships across the education, political, and business/entrepreneurship sectors. His experience working in the non-profit space has allowed him to strengthen key relationships with different stakeholders, community leaders, and legislators. At mHUB, Jarol is helping shape the future for entrepreneurs through the Catalyze Initiative Program, and execution of the Equity Innovation Scholarship Fund & the product development grant. His background in designing grant programs, strategies, and community relationships will surely be something he can contribute to Fempreneur Poder Hub.