FPU Center for Community Transformation

We recently hosted our very first Social Enterprise Workshop in Spanish!

This workshop provided participants with the tools to present their business plan proposals to the Spark Tank en Español Pitch Fest. Once submitted, their proposals were considered for the competition. We guided social enterprises in creating business plans to solve community problems, achieve profitability, and establish a clear roadmap for their operations.

Topics covered included:
- Social enterprise models
- Business plan proposals
- The Spark Tank process

Thank you to the instructor of the workshop, Gladys Martínez!

The Rural Business Class in Selma was an incredible experience!

From strong engagement to meaningful connections and growth, it was inspiring to see local business leaders come together to learn and support one another. We are so thankful for everyone who participated and made it such a success.

A special thank you to Hills Selma and the Kingsburg Chamber for their partnership and support.

And thank you to all of our amazing instructors—we're grateful for the time, knowledge, and energy you poured into this class!

Are you a busy business owner who wasn’t able to attend one of our recent classes in Selma or Reedley? We’ve got good news. All of our classes are now available online!

Online classes are a great way to grow your skills from anywhere — whether you’re learning from home, at your favorite coffee shop, or on the go. Classes include Business Finance Foundations, Culinary Pathways, Sales Through Service, Marketing + Branding, and Non-Profit Catalyst.

Each course is designed to give you practical tools to grow your skills and your impact.

Classes are starting soon, visit our website to sign up today!
https://www.cctfresno.org/business-accelerator-tracks/

Spark Tank is an incredible opportunity for business leaders to collaborate, innovate, and make a lasting impact.

Here’s a look at what the journey looks like. Learn more & get involved here:
https://www.cctfresno.org/initiatives/entrepreneurship/spark-tank/

Module One of the Redemptive Impact Accelerator (RIA) was a powerful start for our leaders. This leadership module is designed to help nonprofit leaders clarify direction, strengthen their organizational foundations, and lead with greater purpose and impact.

Throughout the session, participants began developing a clear “north star” strategy while exploring their mission, vision, and values through a redemptive lens. They also engaged in building strong mental models, evaluating their organization’s unique capabilities, and identifying the value they bring to their communities.

Module 2 is coming this fall! Learn more here: https://www.cctfresno.org/ria/

We loved seeing the energy and collaboration at our Rural Business Class in Reedley!

It was a powerful time of learning, idea-sharing, and building connections among local business leaders. We're grateful for each person who showed up and contributed to such a meaningful experience.

A big thank you to the Reedley Chamber, MCC Global, and the City of Reedley for their partnership in making this possible.

Our team recently had the privilege of attending two events with local organizations we love!

At the Every Neighborhood Partnership “Illuminate” Banquet, they celebrated the hope, resilience, and transformation that happen when neighbors, leaders, and families come together to light the way forward.

Our team also attended Taste of Culture, where the Kingsburg community came together to celebrate its rich diversity through 15 different cultural cuisines—including a community-favorite Yemeni table.

What began as a way to better connect and integrate different ethnic groups has grown into something much more. Taste of Culture now serves as an annual fundraiser supporting women and children in crisis, while also collecting gently used suitcases for foster youth in Fresno County—offering dignity and care in times of transition.

Moments like these remind us what’s possible when communities choose connection, celebration, and care for one another.

We are excited to launch our first Social Enterprise Workshop in Spanish on May 22!

This workshop equips participants with the tools to develop and present their business plan at the Spark Tank en Español Pitch Fest.

Do you know someone in your community who would benefit from this opportunity? Share this with them and help connect Spanish-speaking leaders to the tools, support, and guidance they need to grow.

An incredible start to Module 1 of the Redemptive Impact Accelerator.

Participants will focus on clarifying the core direction that shapes their leadership by building a clear “North Star” framework, defining mission, vision, values, capabilities, and points of view. Through case studies and hands-on activities, they’ll apply this framework to real-world challenges, learning to navigate tension and make grounded decisions about what is in bounds and out of bounds for their organization and approach to leadership.

We are excited to watch these leaders grow, gain clarity, and lead with greater purpose over the next three weeks.