<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1018706268302959&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
((o
Knowledge • News • Insights
 o))
In Partnership With

LEAP’s One and All Inclusive Entrepreneurship Initiative

Pure Lansing
January 6, 2022 12:00 PM

LEAP-130403132935-phpapp02-thumbnail-4 Cropped

Celebrates 19 Graduates in Class of October 2021 Program

Fourth One and All Graduating Class Continues to Accelerate Economic Mobility Across Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties  

As the Fifth One and All class is getting underway this month, we're taking a look back to October 7th, when 19 entrepreneurs from across the Lansing region celebrated the end of a two-month business growth journey with the Lansing Economic Area Partnership’s (LEAP) fourth One and All program. One and All is an inclusive entrepreneurship initiative created in 2020 by the LEAP and funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Consumers Energy Foundation.

bobt“LEAP is proud to celebrate another One and All graduating class with 100 percent completion,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP (left). “We continue to be amazed by the talent and passion of the entrepreneurs who participate in this program. We are grateful to play a part in their journeys thanks to the generous funding that makes One and All possible from MEDC and Consumers Energy Foundation as well as our LEAP members, whose investment in LEAP fuels all our regional economic development efforts.”

The entrepreneurs and small-business owners were immersed in a unique and intensive 2-month program, including business and communication training, coaching and mentoring, access to an extended professional network, and a small seed investment. Lack of access to these critical resources is a common obstacle to success, especially for the underrepresented populations supported by the One and All program.

“[This] program is the best and only program that I can honestly say helped my business ,” said Lorin Cumberbatch, owner of Skin Studio 211. “My mentor, Mary Sucko, was very helpful in helping me complete my business plan, mission statement, vision statement, etc. I would definitely recommend One and All for people who take their business seriously and want to be pushed!”

The October 2021 One and All program also welcomed 19 program mentors to support each entrepreneur’s journey; the mentor-mentee relationship is crucial for the program’s success.

Mentors provided expert guidance and insight, helped mentees clarify goals, identified strategies to advance their ideas and navigate challenging situations, and will continue to serve as a permanent part of their mentee’s support network after graduation. One and All program mentors are established professionals with rich life experience who hail from various business types, higher education, entrepreneurship support organizations, state and local economic development and many are entrepreneurs themselves.

“My co-founder, Raju Patil, and I volunteered to be mentors in the One and All program because it specifically supports founders who identify as we do. As a woman and an immigrant and person of color, Raju and I know that people who identify as we do often don’t have the same opportunities when starting as business. As mentors, we want to do our part to help change this,” said Kylee Guenther, co-founder, and CEO of Pivot Materials. “If you are thinking about being a mentor, just do it! If you have a business, you didn’t grow it in a vacuum – Someone helped you along the way and now it’s your chance to give back when someone needs it most.”

This year, One and All was recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) as a top example of economic equity and inclusion programming internationally. The program received the top-ranked Gold Award in the Economic Equity and Inclusion category.

“The One and All initiative continues to be a critical resource for Lansing region entrepreneurs by breaking down systemic barriers and connecting small-business owners from historically underrepresented backgrounds with the resources and networks they need to succeed,” said Joe Carr, vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at LEAP. “The incredible work of this program would not be possible without our program partners, the Refugee Development Center and the Fledge, and our curriculum partners, Piper & Gold Public Relations and the Capital Region Michigan Small Business Development Center.”

Applications are being accepted until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, November 30 for the January 2022 program. Apply for one of the two upcoming programs or to become a mentor and learn more about the One and All program on LEAP’s website at purelansing.com/OneAndAll.

One and All January-March 2021 Program Graduates

  • LaKiesha Allen, Purposed to Sign
  • Jazmin Anderson, Stay Rooted Shop
  • Reyna Barravino-Cisne, Rey of Light Hair Studio & Co.
  • Chastity Brown, Brown Girl Production
  • Lorin Cumberbatch, Skin Studio 211
  • Angelica Dye, Holistic Esthetics & Wellness
  • Stelisha Foreman, PressednPolished
  • David Garza, Cleaning Creations
  • AnnaMaria Horn, Hope-Central Urban Arts
  • Maranda Houston, Houston Legacy of Enlightenment
  • Shebeeka Hughes, Cocobella
  • Khaliku Kaba, Uganda Water Well
  • Erica Lynn, The Village Lansing
  • Cathey Rynearson, Jadoir AgencE
  • Corina Salinaz, Salinaz Catering
  • Selina Terry, Las Morenas
  • Summer Thomas-Reed, Great Commission Studios
  • Luke Trusnovec, Neva Lee’s
  • Jimecka Williams, Unicorn Palace Spa and Play

One&All Mentors

  • Ben Bakken, Tri-Star Trust
  • Doug Mains, Runabout Coffee
  • Doug Roberts, Consumers Energy
  • Jen Estill, Redhead Design Studio
  • Julie Holton, mConnexions
  • Kylee Guenther, Pivot Materials
  • Laurey Wyble, Great Lakes Crystal Technologies
  • Lisa Fisher, Lisa Fisher Associates
  • Luke Hackney, RetroDuck
  • Mary Stucko, Lansing Community College
  • Matt Gillett, Saddleback BBQ
  • Melik Brown, Lansing Made
  • Nick Lynch, Capital Area United Way
  • Raju Patil, Pivot Materials
  • Reuben Levinsohn, Washington Avenue Advisors
  • Rita LaMoreaux, Lacor Communications
  • Tamara El Khoury, St. Vincent Catholic Charities

###

About LEAP
The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) is a coalition of area leaders partnering to build a stronger community for all—working every day to grow, retain and attract business to the Lansing, Michigan, region.

  • 250727570_4429672790434907_4170426244806670311_n Cropped

Pure Lansing, hosted by Bob Trezise, focuses on positive news and events coming out of the Greater Lansing area.

9:00 PM every Friday
Replay: 3:00 PM, 9:00 PM, 3:00 AM