We were lucky to catch up with Schiniqua Brown-Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Schiniqua, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea for my business came to me in a dream. It was early 2011, my children were about 5 and 6 years old, and I was raising them alone. The nighttime was always very peaceful for me, put them down to bed and then just focus on what needs to happen the next day. I didn’t always dream, or at least I didn’t always remember them, but this particular dream was different. When I awoke in the morning, I remembered everything about my dream, it was so realistic. I could see the 1970s-built home with the words AGAPE on Earth on the front of the house, which had been renovated. It was originally a three-bedroom home, but in my dream, the living room was a conference room, and the bedroom door had my name on it. It read Schiniqua Brown, CEO, and inside was my office; the other room was set up like a bedroom. It was for families that needed emergency shelter, and the kitchen was set up to receive food for a community pantry. The lot was large enough to hold outside community events. I can still visualize it right now!
When I woke up, all I could do was ask God, “What is that?” I asked him if that was a sign. I had never imagined owning or running my own business before.

The next month, I enrolled in school at The University of Phoenix. I was on a mission to learn about how to become an entrepreneur. I graduated in 2014 with my Bachelor’s in Business Management with a concentration in small business entrepreneurship. My final project included launching Agape on Earth. Interestingly enough, after graduating, I ended up teaching at a charter school in South Phoenix for about 4 years and then returned to my first profession as a Dental assistant and Surgical assistant to be able to support my family.

I was laid off due to the pandemic and started contemplating what I was going to do. One day, I picked up an old journal that I had and saw a picture I had drawn in 2018 of the old-fashioned house and structure of Agape on Earth. I knew it was time to execute, I took another business course with my Mentor and then took the leap of faith to get incorporated in 2024, and then in April 2024, received my 501(C)3 approval. I created social media pages, a website, ordered cards, and began calling and setting up meetings with like-minded people and organizations. I created a portfolio to hand out and started holding support groups and meetings in libraries and churches. Every step I took, God put people in my life to help me get to the next level. As of now, I have been able to serve 33 people through support groups and have served over 400 people in the unhoused community with hygiene care packages, snacks, and water, along with clothes, shoes, and blankets.

Agape will be hosting our first Unity in the Community Event on May 3rd, 2025.

I hope from my experience you can understand that it is never too late to start something, and that your dream can become a reality. I truly believe that when God puts something in your mind and heart that He will make sure that it happens. The people that I have met and the network that has been created are a true reflection of what it looks like to bring Unity back into the commUnity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

“Hey there! I’m Schiniqua Brown Rodriguez, a passionate entrepreneur based in Phoenix, AZ. I was born in Chula Vista, CA, and raised in San Diego, but I’ve made Arizona my home.

I hold a business degree with a focus on entrepreneurship from the University of Phoenix. Before diving into the business world, I spent 4 years as an elementary teacher and even attended Ministry school at AZUSA world ministry. Alongside that, I also gained valuable experience in the dental field, working as an assistant, front office treatment coordinator, and surgical assistant for about 18 years.

Sports have always been a big part of my life, and I’ve coached youth sports like soccer, baseball, and flag football for kids aged 5-10. Additionally, I managed Desperadoes youth sports club combining my love for sports, leadership and community. One thing that brings me joy is giving back to the community, and my knack for adjusting, refocusing, and encouraging when needed. I am currently serving a Public Ally which is an Americor leadership program.

In tHe past, I owned a business called SABR Financial, where I focused on credit restoration and financial literacy. Additionally, I hold a patent at the United States patent and trademark office and just published my first mini book titled “Getting over rejection “.

Recently, I founded an organization to help bring the Unity back into the community by offering resources and services to those in need and creating a space for authenticity. I am excited to bring my diverse experiences to the table in this venture. Remember, sharing hope brings UNITY INTO THE COMMUNITY.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Yes! So I built my audience on Social media using tips and tools that I had learned from my first business. It was an MLM multilevel Marketing business to help people with credit restoration and financial literacy. They gave us multiple tricks on how to utilize Meta. Meta can help to schedule your posts, show you when most of your followers are online, and also what hashtags (#) are popular. On Instagram, I searched for people who had things in common with me and liked their photos, and left comments. Currently, I am allowing things to happen more organically but that is the first way that I built my following.

A would recommend that you read Go Pro by Eric Worre. That is a great book on how to attract your audience.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think my face and actions in the community have helped me to build my reputation. I am still building my reputation within the market, but from being a school teacher and interacting with families, also from coaching youth sports in the Town of Guadalupe, my presence in the faith community all helps build my reputation. I walk in Love and care for our community and believe that where I go, I leave that footprint. It is a little harder now because my children are older and my work in the community has changed, but word of mouth has been the biggest help in building my reputation, along with my morals and values that help to keep the fire burning to create unity in the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.onearthlove.com
• Instagram: Agape on Earth
• Facebook: Agape on Earth Inc