“As a founder, what I enjoy most is the ability to bring my vision to life freely and in collaboration with young people and educators. It's about having the autonomy to directly challenge and transform the systemic issues I encountered during my time as a teacher and administrator, and co-create solutions with those most impacted by inequity in schools.”
“I ultimately pursued entrepreneurship to control my time and working conditions, and to have the potential for unlimited wealth. I want this freedom not only for myself, but for others as well. That’s why the businesses I’m building will help employers, employees, and stakeholders prosper together.”
Camelback Ventures is proud to welcome our second cohort of 2023 education and conscious tech innovators to the #CamelbackFam!
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”Being an entrepreneur is like walking blindfolded. Sometimes you don’t know where it leads you or the outcomes. You just have to do it. I walk into every scenario with the sense that I have to try and if I fail, it is a lesson learned.”
“Every child needs mirrors in which to see themselves, windows in which to see different worlds, and sliding glass doors with which they can access their own futures. My venture provides books for children that are mirrors of themselves, windows to other worlds, and literacy is the skill that slides open doors for them to walk through.”
“When I went through the process of being pregnant and postpartum for the first time, I realized that so many of the mental wellness systems that touch us - communities of color, immigrants, etc. - erase these beautiful gifts that were passed down to us, and that we want to continue to pass down to future generations. I was frustrated and didn’t want to wait around for someone else to build a system that is more responsive to our needs. I wanted to be a part of shaping the world I wanted to see.”
Read More“I do this work because it is deeply personal. It is what I wish was in place for my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. It is what I wish for my children and for all children.”
Read More“What I enjoy most about being a founder is the freedom to create, to change course, and to dream big.”
Read More“I love sharing about the changing world with today’s youth and creating a space for curious kids who love to explore and make a difference in their community.“
Read More“I believe that Cohort Sistas will be able to not only help increase the number and percentage of Black women and non-binary scholars who complete doctoral degrees, but will also empower more scholars to utilize their academic and professional skills post-doctoral degree to change the world in significant ways.”
Read MoreFrom boosting economic growth in undervalued communities by creating job opportunities to developing innovations that can help save lives - Camelback Ventures is proud to support BIPOC, women, and nonbinary entrepreneurs across the country leading social impact ventures. These founders lean into this challenging and often lonely journey guided by their 'north stars'. In February 2023, Camelback is launching a yearlong "Entrepreneurship Is..." campaign to share the motivational stories of what propels Camelback Fellows to turn their dreams into reality.
Camelback Ventures is proud to welcome our first cohort of 2023 education and conscious tech innovators to the #CamelbackFam!
Read More“St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature began by supporting the work of local Black self-published authors, providing avenues to get their books in the hands of children. Our core goal is to ensure Black children are getting quality books and Black authors are being supported and valued.”
Read More“I hope to leave a legacy of commitment to community wellness, to democratizing access to health and well-being, and to approaching complex crises with an intersectional, cross-disciplinary methodology.”
Read More“Across the Deep South, we see examples of foundations and philanthropists creating complicated grant applications and reporting requirements in order to dole out small sums of money to communities upon whose backs their wealth was built in the first place. Imagine the trauma of applying for funds from a foundation that bears the name of the people that enslaved your ancestors. And then being forced to center the shortcomings of your community in order to convince them that your request is justified.”
Read More“Given the current youth mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, it has never been more evident that adolescents and young adults are in desperate need of authentic, fun, and culturally-relevant ways to learn about their emotions. We built ThinkHuman to meet young people right where they are (on streaming sites) to help address this need.”
Read More“I did not become a co-founder of Collective Climb out of an initial desire to be an entrepreneur. What started off as an informal practice became something important to the lives of young people and their families in my community. In essence, I entered the entrepreneurial space because it became a necessity to expand these efforts and because I couldn't see myself doing anything else.”
Read More“I hope that future generations will be active and equal co-creators in building communities that serve everyone equitably. If they are, I believe we’ll see governments, nonprofits, and businesses that are not only responsive to community needs, but proactively collaborating with their communities to promote the common good.”
Read More“I hope to democratize information about the criminal legal system and contribute to increasing transparency and accountability.”
Read More“I had aspired to become a foreign service officer and ambassador, but due to changing budgets and presidencies, my dream got derailed. I looked inward and thought about the problems that I wanted to solve as a second-generation American. I came to the conclusion that I could best use my talents to support nonprofits and healthcare organizations that work with communities like the one I come from by giving them access to tools and support they otherwise would not have.”
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