In the past, I used to own bars, but I really wanted to own a business that was family oriented.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I grew up around the area, so I was comfortable with the neighborhood.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
The hardest part was finding the right people to run the day-to-day operations. I had the concept, I had the building, I just needed a good team to hire.
WYBC is giving away a $4,000 scholarship to a local Junior or Senior in High School that has over adversity and is succeeding in the classroom and looking to continue their education beyond High School.
The last day to apply is June 30, 2025. This form should be submitted only once. Multiple submissions could lead to disqualification.
Special thanks to our scholarship contributors: Derwin Griffith State Farm, The Walter Luckett Foundation, Howard K. Hill Funeral Services and Ocean State Job Lot.
Scholarship Application.
Open Juniors and Seniors attending high school in the Greater New Haven area and looking to continue their education.
Application Dates: February 27, 2025 to June 30, 2025
Winner announced the week of July 7, 2025.
Submission start date is Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 12:00AM.
Deadline for all applications is Monday June 30, 2025 at 11:59PM.
Winners will be announced the week of July 7, 2025.
Eligibility
Applicant must a Connecticut resident, a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Legal Resident of the United States and either a junior or senior currently attending high school in the Greater New Haven area. Employees of Connoisseur Media, Yale Broadcasting Company., its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies, and members of said employees’ immediate family and those living in the same household of employees are not eligible.
You may apply for a chance to win a scholarship only if you meet the eligibility requirements set forth on the webpage. Additionally, scholarships are non-transferable and must be accepted as awarded.
No purchase or payment is necessary to apply for scholarships. Scholarship recipient will be notified via the contact information provided.
Business Name:Soulful Threads, 1022 Chapel Street, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: November 2020. Storefront on Chapel opened on November 15th 2023. We are a new store!
Why did you start your own business?
After graduating with my master’s in social work from UConn in 2020, I like many others lost their jobs when Covid hit. I decided to pick up some side jobs to help cover the bills and selling clothes became one of them. I got great feedback from people saying I had a great eye and its led from one opportunity to the next. I’ve always been a girl addicted to retail, so this was the perfect dream for me to work towards.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
After considering many other locations, both inside and out of the state, I chose New Haven because of its dedication to progressive change downtown. The culture is growing here, and young people are now looking here as a great place to build a life. No matter who you are, you can find your niche in New Haven. The only thing it was missing was a place for curated 90s/y2k vintage, which is the hole we have tasked ourselves with filling.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
In December 2021, I lost my brother and only sibling to a rare cancer that took him within a year of diagnoses. Grief is by far the hardest thing i’ve dealt with. Especially being in my young adulthood. My brother was a computer programmer who helped start the makings of what is now our website. I made it my mission after he died to make Soulful a success and here we are in one of the Shops at Yale 2 years since he passed.
Business Name:MINI PNG, 77 Audubon Street, New Haven
Year Business was started in New Haven:
2022 – storefront
2019 – started making clothing online
Why did you start your own business?:
In 2019 as an 18-year-old, I was going to college for pre law in a whole different state! (Ohio State University) and I felt like the creative side of me was missing that had always been a part of me. In HS I wanted to go to college for fashion design after studying abroad in high school in Europe and getting inspired by fashion in general. BUT I wanted to go to college in NYC. I was told by my HS counselor that the field held no income for me. So, I went for my plan B major which was prelaw. I came back home transferring colleges after my first semester in Ohio trying to figure myself out after a horrible personal experience. I started making clothing and selling it online for fun and for extra money since I couldn’t hold a job with the prelaw program I was in. My designs went viral, and I took a step back from college in 2020 during the pandemic to really focus on what I loved.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?:
My family is from New Haven! My Abuela immigrated from Puerto Rico – Brooklyn with family merging into New Haven. My grandmother went to ACES as a kid and the location of my shop with ACES being right next door was a full circle moment!
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?:
One of my biggest challenges was dropping college. I’m a first gen student in my family (only child) and it was very pushed on me to be the one to follow the road to success “the right way.” I’ve always had support from my family, but it was more of an internal battle and the overall fear of failure/ that what if aspect of veering off the path that’s expected.
I wanted to let the community know that there’s real authentic Jamaican food out there, plus my love of cooking and appreciation of a good home cooked meal.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I chose New Haven, because I live in NH, love New Haven, and the diverse cultures in New Haven would definitely appreciate my meals.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
The business started in Oct of 2019, so that means with only a couple of months in, just like that COVID hit.. we had to re-adjust and revamp and stayed prayed up.
Photos courtesy of KoolBreeze Jamerican Cuisine Restaurant
I started my own business because I wanted to do what I love and I also wanted to be in control of my own destiny.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I chose New Haven because I migrated from Jamaica and settled in New Haven. I would’ve have started my own business no matter where I lived and I had a fashion design company in Jamaica prior.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
At the time I started my business funding was one of the major challenges, but now that I know better, experience was my biggest challenge. I have no regrets but for those who may be trying to start their own business. Get as much information as you can and make sure you can adjust your budget if you don’t meet your projections. Just find a way, dream big, act fast and never worry about failure. Starting a business in Connecticut was not easy but could have been easy if I had a more confidence and push the limits a little much more and not compromise. Stay true to who you are.
Photos courtesy of Neville Wisdom’s Fashion Design Studio
Business Name:Salon E’Selim, 893 Chapel Street, Suite 3, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: 2018
Why did you start your own business?
My passion for pouring love, joy and encouragement into the community through hair care is what inspired me to open my own business.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
Moving from South Carolina to Connecticut in 2014 was an emotional time for me because I’d built so much there. But after settling in New Haven and receiving so much support, love, opportunities and family help, I realized that change was good and necessary.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
My biggest challenge in my career was work-life balance and the root of that was not having the courage to say no! Keeping my clients looking good for their lifestyle and events, kept me working through my own family time and invited work-related events. Missing out on making memories with those who have supported me and my business has motivated me to saying “No” and showing up for myself and others! In short, I can’t be amazing to others if I can’t be amazing to myself, so I’ve made self-care a priority because it’s inevitable!
I gained inspiration from my parents, who kept flowers all throughout her home in the Caribbean Island of Dominica. As a teenager, I would be tasked with picking flowers from the family garden for the dinner table, and she enjoyed making arrangements.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
My family immigrated to the United States when I was 17. Upon seeing the abundance of flower shops and craft stores, I realized that I could turn my interest into a profession and began taking orders for floral arrangements from friends.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
It’s challenging to get support from the community, however, over time, I was able to develop a clientele. People noticed my work and that turned out to be the primary driver for orders.
Congratulations to Ashley from Wallingford! She is our WYBC Valentine’s Day Grand Prize Winner! Ashley and the love of her life, her husband Dustin, are going to enjoy tickets to see Mary J. Blige, dinner at Kool Breeze Jamerican Cuisine in New Haven, flowers and chocolates!
