We recently connected with Niurka Castaneda and have shared our conversation below.
Niurka, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?
What, once upon a time, got started as an entrepreneurial class project at a Global Supply Chain Program hosted by the Miami Dade College became a life-changing endeavor for Niurka Castaneda, founder of AMOR Umbrella – a Florida based boutique enterprise bridging the gaps between the arm forces community and civilians across the nation. Now her vision and her mission are growing into a movement representing the rich cultural diversity of all military branches, specially 2M+ women veterans who often feel forgotten, left behind and invisible.
The idea of these gift initiatives was born when Makissa Lewis, a veteran woman and founder of My Seester – a nonprofit serving her peers- suggested sending a signed heart-shaped umbrella representing this overlooked demographic to the White House. Immediately, Niurka decided to take the challenge and embarked on a year-long journey to make it happen. During that time, impressive partnerships were established among several organizations, small businesses, and artisans across the nation united under one vision: to support the neglected military community, advocate for mental health, and showcase the world class talent our rich country has to offer! Many live events were organized to gather the signatures required, and each time new relationships were created and epic memories were built to last a lifetime!
Each gift has been meticulously curated for the intended recipient and artistically wrapped in glamorous textiles, personally handpicked by international Mixed Media Artist Nefertiti San Miguel from Etnia Fusion Boston, following Japanese tradition (Tenugui & Furoshiki). Every ensemble tells a unique story of mindfulness and connection among all parties involved (the giver, the maker and the receiver), fostering love and support in each multi-sensory masterpiece, whether is highlighting cultural background, cheering up full recovery from Cancer treatment or sharing the benefits of aroma therapy; all components have a special meaning full of symbolism, from the colors selected to the accessories included in each presentation. Side note / fun fact for the American History lovers: both gifts were mailed from the Post Office located just steps away from the original Boston Tea Party.
The first time, the organization sent a gift was November 2021, the recipient was the newly elected Vice-President, Kamala Harris. The color theme was purple to represent all the veteran women who have served in the US military and intentionally many different cultural components were brought together to represent the ethnic diversity of our population.
The second gift in the series was sent May this year to The Honorable Governor of Florida, Veteran Ron DeSantis and his wife Mrs. Casey DeSantis, to show love and support to the family as she recently underwent cancer treatment and now is enjoying full health recovery, The color theme was pink and brown to symbolize cancer-awareness and the natural resources found in the Everglades National Park.
All gifts have been one of a kind functional art, mainly including heart-shaped umbrellas lovingly signed by friends and supporters, leather bags designed by Nefertiti San Miguel from Etnia Fusion + Niurka Castaneda , AMOR Umbrella and handmade in USA by Donald Dodson, a veteran artisan.
The bipartisan gifts initiatives were just the beginning for AMOR Umbrella in co-creation with the private sector to strengthen military and civilian understanding while enriching our communities, fostering cultural diversity, and discovering a vast pool of talents in all corners of this great country!
Niurka shares: “next initiatives are currently underway, with the intentions to increase visibility for our cause, and bridge communication gaps among veterans, active military members and civilian demographic.
Future recipients will be iconic public figures such as Oprah, Drew Barrymore and Martha Stewart.
And you might be asking: why these public figures?
The answer: because they all have in common to be living their own version of
the American Dream. In spite the challenges and even the lack of resources at the very beginning of their endeavors, they made it big! You should get inspired by those stories because they represent self empowerment.
For more details about our progress visit: https://www.amorumbrella.com/
We are in search of donors and volunteers to amplify efforts and impact. Future projects will continue to showcase USA made products and military owned businesses, so if you are a veteran, active duty or spouse and would like to be considered to share the spotlight with us as one of our valued contributors contact us via email [email protected]
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Our founder leveraged her education combined with her military skills and 20+ years in the field of logistics, in addition to personal life experiences, to create her company AMOR Umbrella, which once upon a time started as a class project at a Global Supply Chain Program at Miami Dade College and quickly became a life changing endeavor that ignited an entrepreneurial spirit and a journey of creativity, problem solving, personal empowerment, constant innovation and evolution.
Entrepreneurship was our founder way to find a new identity after transitioning from the military and building a brand out a heart shaped bright red umbrella. It was a defining moment that unleash her creativity.
She turned a simple class project into a life-changing enterprise, no only for her, but for so many of her peers, because she created AMOR umbrella, a heart-centered organization dedicated to help women veteran and military families to not only transition successfully into the civilian world but also start new businesses to improve their own economy and the quality of the communities where they live.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I bought myself time to try my ideas to see what work and did not by bootstrapping as much as I could and I using my own personal funds, borrowed from credit cards, family and friends
Have you ever had to pivot?
Amor Umbrella has evolved to become a global media company that focuses on serving the military – veteran community thru programs, products & services, that educate, entertain and empower our community. When our founder found that misinformation of available resources was and still is an issue for active military and veterans alike, so often in the dark of where to go for that much needed help, she was there too, reason why she took it upon herself to be a bridge builder and help correct the gap by launching her own Veteran – Entrepreneur Focus media shows & events: Umbrellas of Hope TV & Founders Time Podcast.
In our veteran focus tv show, she personally curates the content and the accuracy of the information and resources shared and bridge the gap between veterans and the civilian world by initiating and facilitating conversations of Hope, Empowerment and Creativity and avenues to elevate the experience of transitioning out the military.
In our entrepreneurial focused Podcast, she aims to inform, inspire veterans entrepreneurs that are starting their own entrepreneurial journey by offering actionable business advice from Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs that guides other thru the process of building their own dream business by helping then build the frameworks and system needed to build a solid foundation from the beginning.
And by collaborating, organizing & hosting educational networking and social events like the Business & Art Infusion Summit with a focus on community, education and skill development, aiming to foster and spark creativity, and innovation by infusing both worlds together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amorumbrella.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amorumbrella
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessandartinfusion
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/amorumbrella
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4rMxKEdvSIXfZkFEVfz7rQ
- Other: https://fundthefirst.com/campaign/restoring-hope-4z1nmj
Image Credits
Niurka Castaneda