Enterprising Latinas History
This quote that sits in the center of
the Wimauma Opportunity Center
is the inspiration and conviction
behind Enterprising Latinas, a young
exciting women’s empowerment
organization dedicated to opening
pathways of opportunity for women,
in particular, Latinas, in the Tampa
Bay area. This is done through a
holistic approach that boosts the
well-being of women by providing
them with tools and resources for
their personal, financial, and family
prosperity since 2014.
Elizabeth Gutierrez, founder and
CEO of Enterprising Latinas, created
a model that focuses the efforts
in PROMOTING AGENCY by
creating networks of mutual support
that enforce the sense of community
and allows women to work on
common issues, DISCOVERING
ASSETS by learning new skills
leading to financial independence,
and PROVIDING ACCESS by
connecting women to resources that
help them to reach their personal
and professional goals.
Enterprising Latinas started its
operations in Wimauma, FL. This
small agricultural community
in the middle of an economic
transformation is home to a great
number of Latino residents who
have faced some of the most
challenging issues minorities
experience in our country: poverty,
isolation, lack of transportation, lack
of job opportunities, and deficient
access to services such as health and
education.
The organization started with two
staff members, a small office and
great energy bringing together a
community around activities that
helped to understand their struggles
first hand. Step by step, they have
become an important resource for
women in the community wanting
to explore entrepreneurship, training
and personal support opportunities.
In 2018, Enterprising Latinas
moved to its building in the heart
of the community: the Wimauma
Opportunity Center. Today it’s a
well-known hub for the community
to gather for different weekly
activities and to access an interesting
array of resources.
During these five years, the
organization has been able to serve
hundreds of women and their
families through more than 23
different educational programs and
workshops, connecting residents
to family services and constant
training, entrepreneurial and
personal coaching opportunities
abound. Enterprising Latinas
operates with an 18 person staff
and has become an advocate and
important voice working to develop
community-based solutions and
focusing on expanding their
economic impact with long-term
solutions for the SouthShore
communities.
The future is promising and
exciting. Wimauma Connects!
The first Wi-Fi network in the area
recently launched and will continue
to grow. Today it serves more than
500 people who can access jobs and
educational resources free of charge.
The organization obtained public
investment of more than $600,000
to launch Arriba! Transportation,
a service that will offer fair-cost
transportation, will connect residents
with services, and connect with the
HART network. These services are
growing and offering training and
educational opportunities and lifting
up the Wimauma community.
Interested in volunteering with
the Opportunity Center or want to
elevate your skills in order to gain
employment or create your own
business? Contact the Center at
(813) 699-5811.
“Once you make a decision,
the universe conspires to
make it happen.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
52 | SouthShore 2020 COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE