participants

Maxine, from Chicago, has faced challenges, including losses in her family and a fire at her business. Despite it all, she remains resilient. Through the Marshalls Good Stuff Accelerator Program, she overcame self-doubt and fear. With encouragement from her Cru community, a powerhouse support group, she re-launched her pop-up concession stand and is now working toward her dream of owning a storefront and creating jobs for single moms and women in need.

This Texas mom of two joined the program seeking guidance, but she found what she truly needed: community. After a separation and financial setback, Karla M rebuilt her confidence through weekly Cru group sessions, grew her social media following, and reconnected with her passion for uplifting young Latinas. She's now relaunching her bilingual books for young girls — in Spanish and English — celebrating the beauty and strength of Latina culture, and running a VIP dog boarding business, all while giving back through charity events and youth classes, fueled by a newfound belief in herself and her purpose.

From her home in Chicago, Karla Y has taken her virtual tutoring business to the next level, offering corporate ESL and Spanish programs that are truly making a difference. Thanks to the support from the program through mentorship and peer coaching sessions, she found confidence, clarity, and a new sense of momentum that has even carried over into her personal fitness and wellness goals. Her first corporate ESL class had 100% amazing feedback, and now she’s excited to keep growing and helping others feel seen, heard, and at home.

When she joined the program, Patricia had just welcomed her second child and was navigating life as a new mom of two while trying to keep her business afloat. After moving to Austin, TX with her husband to pursue their dreams, things got challenging. Through the program, she received guidance from experts and found a group of women that lifted her up. Now, with renewed focus, financial prowess, and a rebrand in progress, she’s stepping into her next chapter with confidence, all with her little ones cheering her on.

When Leeane, aka Reina, applied to the program on her lunch break, she was fresh off a breakup and trying to stay grounded, balancing life in LA, her full-time job in sustainable fashion, and nights spent writing music with her pup by her side. The program and its tools gave her networking opportunities, accountability, funding, and a much-needed creative reset. She released one Spanish EP and is working on her second to be released next year with the help of the grant.

Novella, an Illinois native and licensed therapist, joined the program to regain financial stability and pursue her LCPC license. Raised by her grandmother and driven by a calling to help others, she's now preparing for her exam and interning in addiction counseling. The program gave her not just a grant, but mentorship and guidance that reminded her of her purpose: to uplift and heal underserved youth.