John,
My name is Karla. I’m a SEED grantee and the proud owner of Orchid Essence, LLC, a natural candle company. Growing up in El Salvador, we always had candles around the house to use during power outages, including a few scented ones that I cherished because they were given to me as gifts.
I actually began my career in dentistry, but when I came to the U.S. I had to start over from scratch. While working as a health educator for a women's sexual and reproductive health program, I learned about the damage that chemicals do to our bodies. That’s when I decided to create a line of completely natural candles and start my path as an entrepreneur!
Invest in immigrant entrepreneurs like Karla by donating to Immigrants Rising today!
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Karla (left) poses with Orchid Essence candles lit in the background. A close-up photo (right) of one of her candles reads "Peppermint & Eucalyptus."
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After researching types of wax and chemical-free fragrances, getting the SEED grant gave me the boost I needed to get my business off the ground. The grant funds allowed me to buy essential supplies and thanks to the SEED grantee workshops, I connected with Bet Tzedek for some free legal support to change my business from a sole proprietorship to an LLC.
My vision is that when you light one of my candles, the natural aromas will help you relax, connect you with your senses, and create an atmosphere of overall well-being. I hope that in 2023 I’ll connect with more people who resonate with that vision, that my business will keep growing, and that eventually, I’ll have my own studio. I’m very grateful to Immigrants Rising for their support as I work toward that dream!
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Karla Morales Hoyos
SEED grantee
Immigrants Rising
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