Since he was a teenager, John has always known he was good at cutting hair. He got his start helping his brother trim hair at a salon in Malawi when he was very young. Now, 17 years later, John is achieving his dream of opening his own full-service salon here in America. Called He & She Salon, John’s shop is Read More »
The Ingredients to Start a New Life and Restaurant
Meet Salam Bunyan from Baghdad Salam Bunyan is an expert chef. He grew up in Iraq experimenting with different flavors and combining ingredients. He lived and worked around food in Iraq — including serving as a chef at a five-star restaurant in Baghdad — until 2006, when war forced him to leave his native country. In the early ‘90s, Salam Read More »
Hana is Fulfilling Her Dream
Hana grew up in Baghdad, where food, groceries, and bakeries were always a family affair for her. Both her grandmother and mother owned stores there, and she and her brothers have fond memories of helping and playing in those stores when they were small children in Iraq. Today Hana is fulfilling her dream of having her own store. She recently Read More »
Abdi Haji – Umoja Na Uhuru World Farm
If you’ve been to Boise’s Capital City Public Market, you’ve probably seen Abdi Haji of Umoja Na Uhuru World Farm. A refugee from Somalia, Abdi has been growing organic vegetables in the Treasure Valley since 2006, first with the Somali Bantu Community Farm in Eagle, then through Global Gardens, a program of the Idaho Office for Refugees. When Abdi decided Read More »
Valentine (Yao) Sessou-Djokotu – Valentino’s Hair Cut Up
Valentine Sessou-Djokutu came to the US from Togo after spending seven years in a refugee camp in Benin. He arrived with his wife and three children in March of 2007 already possessing 24 years experience as a barber. After attending Boise Barber College, he received a license and a certificate. EO helped him sublease a space from another EO client, Read More »
Tino Silva – Intermountain Construction and Abatement
Tino Silva, owner of Intermountain Construction and Abatement, is living proof of the “American Dream. With EO’s help, a relationship with Zions Bank was built that ultimately helped him secure an SBA 7(a) loan and purchase the business at which he had worked for the past eight years. The previous owner of the company was ready to retire and thought Read More »
Horacio Castillo – Janitzio Restaurant
Horacio Castillo has owned Janitzio Restaurant for nine years and runs it with his family. Recently the owner of the building where their restaurant formerly resided informed Horacio that she did not intend to renew their lease. So Horacio made plans to buy the building across the street that housed a competing restaurant, knowing that the restaurant’s owners were ready Read More »