We recently connected with Kenya Thornton-Bolivar and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenya, thanks for joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Yes, I would say I am happier as a business owner because it gives me the power to enhance, change, grow at the pace that is comfortable for me. My businesses involve helping people and it gives me the opportunity to help with all the red tape that can go along with mental health especially with domestic violence.

I have worked for others when I was younger which was good experience. It gave me the opportunity to really examine how people operate from all levels. As a person of color, I also saw many challenges with discrimination, but I decided not to allow it to make me want something for myself. Why would a person of color spend all that money on college only to go and work for someone, then get passed for promotions when you know your qualified.

So for me I have always worked hard, I just did not want to continue to work hard for others.

Kenya, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I own and operate Community Intervention & Educational Services, known as the Cool Program, a service that provides mental health and psyco-educational service to those who need: domestic violence, substance abuse, DUI Services and Supervised visits. Many of our clients come by way of court order and cases involving DSS, so we work alot with both governmental and other organizations to provide these services.

My non-profit Eliza’s Helping Hands, Inc works with those victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. We provide court advocacy, safe space, support groups, financial literacy as well as trauma services for victims and their families.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

I recently purchased an investment park to be able to rent out and expand my own business services. It was a challenge in the beginning as i did not know anything about being a developer. It is also very hard when you are a young woman of color to get financing needed which is why I am glad I was blessed with a investor who’s focus was to help potential developers who are women of color.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I was blessed to have the support of my parents when I first started out. They were my initial investors.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ciescoolprogram.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoolprogramws/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCCQXvTwNTs&t=2s
• Other: www.elizashelpinghands.org