Young Entrepreneurs Show Their Best at Business Event

by Tony Vindell/LFN

Entrepreneurs from several Rio Grande Valley cities met in Harlingen to show the products of their labor.

El Mercado Mall on Sunshine Strip hosted the event where future business owners set up tables to show what they make and which could be their source of income later in life.

Some of them already made a profit.

Lorena Carrillo, a 14 year old attending Cavalry Christian School in Harlingen, showed her artistic skills.

The young painter brought in and sold several works of art she learned while attending Artsycolors Splash, the company that organized the first annual Children’s Business Fair held Saturday, April 21.

Carrillo, whose family lives along Bass Boulevard east of La Feria, said she started painting at the age of 7.

A beautiful portrait of a girl and another of a green jay were among the pieces of art she had set on a table.

Across from there, Amber Loya was showing a slime product that’s made using laundry detergent as one of the components.

The Brownsville girl attends Ben Milam Elementary School where her mother, also named Amber, teaches.

“You can do quite a few things with this,” she said, showing what looks like playdough. “I have been making this for the last three years but this is the first time I attend an event like this one.”

Other young entrepreneurs were seen selling other products such as snacks, T-shirts, crosses, painted rocks and aguas frescas.

Mayte Zebrowsky, the arts center owner, said she decided to hold the fair to motivate youngsters ages six to 16 to learn something about the business world.

“We had 20 participants and, for being the first time, this is pretty good,” she said. “We already have people signing up for next year.”