Hanh Entrepreneur Workspaces for Achieving Success

Kewa Pueblo, an Indigenous village of around 3,000 people, located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico boasts a vibrant community of micro-business entrepreneurs. The 2020 US Census profiles estimates a 53.7% employment rate, and a poverty rate of 17.4%. While the employment rate assumes that nearly half the population is unemployed – many individuals engage in local or micro-businesses. A recent survey of Facebook groups “Hey Kewa” and “Kewa Arts & Food Sales” received 39 responses from community members. Out of 37 responses, 22 individuals self-reported that they are engaged in working from home in food production, jewelry or art making, and work in farming. Nearly all the respondents were female. Many of the respondents also use their profits to support their families and to “pay for bills.”

A challenge for these entrepreneurs is a lack of spaces specifically dedicated to food production. Many of the entrepreneurs work from their home kitchens which entails issues like food storage, food safety, efficiency, and food waste.

My solution is to establish shared commercial kitchen, classroom, and retail spaces within the Kewa Pueblo community. These shared-use facilities will give local micro-business entrepreneurs access to the infrastructure they need to produce and market their goods professionally.

The shared commercial kitchen is the core component. It provides commercial-grade equipment like ovens, stoves, prep stations, large refrigerators, and freezers for food production. This allows entrepreneurs currently operating out of home kitchens to safely produce food items in a certified, efficient space.

In addition, the shared spaces include a classroom for hosting workshops on topics like food safety, bookkeeping, and marketing skills. This helps build business knowledge and connects entrepreneurs. There is also a small retail area where products can be displayed and sold directly to customers.

WiFi access throughout the facilities provides connectivity to online tools. Entrepreneurs can use computers and mobile devices to manage tasks like inventory, online ordering, social media marketing and financial records. Training is offered on software for point-of-sale, accounting, and e-commerce storefronts.

By giving local entrepreneurs access to commercial-grade infrastructure, skills training, and technology tools all in one shared-use location, this solution aims to empower micro-businesses by removing barriers to growth. It allows food producers, artisans, and others to operate professionally and sustainably right in the heart of the community.

My solution directly benefits the Kewa Pueblo community in New Mexico. The Kewa Pueblo is an Indigenous community of around 3,000 citizens.

I developed this solution based on direct engagement with Kewa Pueblo residents and entrepreneurs. I conducted a survey of local Facebook groups used by community members to sell food and craft products. This helped me understand the types of micro-businesses being operated from home kitchens, challenges faced, and needs of the entrepreneurs. I also interviewed several female food producers about their experiences.

The target population are Kewa Pueblo residents currently operating micro-businesses like small food production businesses from home. These are primarily women who rely on the income to support their families. My solution aims to directly address the needs they expressed around lacking dedicated commercial kitchen facilities, food safety knowledge, marketing skills, and access to technology.

The shared commercial kitchen, classroom and retail spaces will be located within the Kewa Pueblo community to ensure direct benefits. Entrepreneurs will gain a certified commercial space to produce food safely and efficiently. Training and resources provided will help build business skills and connect community members. Access to technology in the shared spaces will help expand the reach and sales of their products.

Overall, this Indigenous-led solution developed in partnership with community members is specifically designed to empower Kewa Pueblo residents by removing barriers currently limiting their micro-business success and economic opportunities. It will strengthen food sovereignty and local entrepreneurship within the community. 

As members of the Kewa Pueblo community, KIWA is uniquely positioned to design and deliver this solution in a way that truly meets the needs of local entrepreneurs. As community members ourselves, we understand the challenges that micro-businesses in our area face when trying to grow. We know first-hand the lack of accessible commercial infrastructure, training opportunities, and technology support that have hindered many from taking their ideas to the next level.

As the Team Lead, I have lived in Kewa Pueblo my whole life and have strong relationships across the community. The other members of KIWA also have deep roots here and personal connections to potential users of this solution. Because of our proximity and existing trust within the target population, we are able to gather meaningful input directly from local entrepreneurs about what resources and support they really need to thrive.

Our team composition also ensures the perspectives of different groups within the community are represented. We have members with expertise in areas like food production, arts and crafts, technology, and small business operations. We also receive guidance from community advisors who can provide important cultural insights.

Most importantly, our solution design process is community-driven from the start. We will hold regular feedback sessions to get input on our ideas from local stakeholders. Nothing is implemented without vetting it through the very people it aims to help. As insiders dedicated to the success of Kewa Pueblo entrepreneurs, KIWA is best positioned to iteratively design a solution that is truly by and for the community.

The solution is currently in the Concept stage of development. So far, I have conducted initial research by surveying community members to understand the key problems entrepreneurs in the area face.

However, more work needs to be done to fully define the solution before prototyping can begin. To further progress the concept, I am convening the KIWA workgroup to collaboratively explore the design space. We will work to create ontologies that map out the core components of the solution, impacts on the user ecosystem, and potential business models.

User personas, experience maps, and MVP definitions will also be developed to help guide our design thinking. Impact sustainability model canvases and other tools will help evaluate feasibility. Regular feedback sessions will be held to get early input from potential users on our ideas.

Once this foundational groundwork is complete, the workgroup will begin designing and testing initial MVP with a small group of users. Iterative feedback cycles will allow us to refine the MVP based on real-world use.

The KIWA workgroup is dedicated to advancing the idea through a community-driven, human-centered design process before declaring it ready to pilot or scale.

We are applying to Solve because our solution directly aims to promote digital sovereignty and advance community-driven technologies in support of Kewa Pueblo entrepreneurs.

As Indigenous innovators, we believe firmly in harnessing traditional knowledge and cultural values to reimagine what is possible for our community. Our shared-use commercial kitchens, classrooms, and access to marketing, and technology is designed first and foremost to strengthen economic self-sufficiency according to Pueblo priorities and worldviews.

However, as a grassroots effort still in the conceptual stage, we face barriers to fully developing technologies and infrastructure that empower local control. Partnerships through Solve could provide funding, technical expertise, and cultural guidance to help us overcome these challenges.

Advice from Solve networks may help ensure our solution aligns with best practices for the ethical development and application of data technologies in an Indigenous context. Partners could also connect us to similar initiatives elsewhere to jointly strengthen digital sovereignty across communities.

Most importantly, we aim to leverage Solve's support to uphold our community-driven process. Nothing will be implemented without ongoing input from stakeholders. We believe this culturally-informed approach, coupled with Solve's holistic assistance, can help our innovative concept advance local prosperity according to Pueblo visions of technology, business and self-determination.

Born and raised in Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico.

Our solution takes an innovative approach by placing cultural revitalization and community self-determination at the core of our efforts to strengthen economic opportunities in Kewa Pueblo.

Where many shared-use kitchen or marketplace concepts focus primarily on business operations and profitability, we center Pueblo traditions, languages, and knowledge systems in both the physical space design and business model.

We hope to serve as an inspiring model for other Indigenous communities seeking to harness entrepreneurship for cultural preservation according to their own self-defined values.

Our community-driven process of iteratively co-creating the solution concept with stakeholders also represents an innovative approach. Continuous feedback ensures the design remains fully aligned with community needs and visions over time.

If successfully implemented, we believe our model could change the landscape by demonstrating an alternative path for mixed-use developments - one that strengthens sovereignty and well-being, not just profits. Partnerships through Solve would help maximize our solution's potential to have broader positive influence.

IF we create shared commercial kitchen, classroom, and marketing spaces for local residents engaged in micro-businesses like food production and provide access to relevant technology tools, THEN local entrepreneurs will have access to a clean, dedicated space to produce their food products with improved quality, food safety, and a storefront as well as technology to help with tasks like online ordering, inventory management, and social media marketing, SO THAT they will feel more confident and empowered in their businesses, reduce food waste, increase profits, and gain self-efficacy through new skills and opportunities including digital skills, ultimately empowering them economically and socially in the community through greater connectivity, visibility, and efficiency enabled by technology.

We currently do not have any staff. A workgroup is being convened to help with the design of the impact.

The solution has been in my mind for many years, but I had no idea how to take the next steps from ideation to action. My coursework at HGSE has inspired me to work on the project.