Who or what is your inspiration in business?

Honestly, growing up I used to watch Shark Tank a lot, and that made me want to do something for myself. But as I got older, it became deeper than that. My real inspiration is my family and the environment I come from. I’ve seen how hard it can be when opportunities aren’t there, so I decided I’m not waiting on anything; I’m building my own.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by what’s around me and what I’m responsible for. I’ve got two kids, so failure isn’t really an option for me. At the same time, I see the disadvantages in my community every day, and that pushes me to keep going. I’m trying to build something better; not just for me, but for my family and people around me too.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’d put the $25,000 into building my nonprofit focused on family health and access to real food, especially through community gardens. At the same time, I’d use part of it to strengthen the marketing and structure of my businesses so they can actually grow and bring in steady income. The goal is to create something sustainable; where my businesses help fund the nonprofit long-term, so it’s not just a one-time impact, it keeps going.