#067 - Today we are joined by 2 guests: Arturo Noriega, Founder and CEO of Centro Community Partners and Annie Wang, owner of Little Moon Bakehouse. Arturo shares his journey of starting Centro to help entrepreneurs in underserved communities, particularly women and immigrants, build successful businesses. Annie discusses her path to launching Little Moon Bakehouse, a vegan, eco-conscious bakery. Together, they explore the roles of community support, sustainable practices, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.

Centro Community Partners provides business training, financial literacy, access to capital, and 1:1 business coaching for success. Arturo says…

“We cater to how we can help you create an idea that is profitable… We listen to you… We will never judge your idea.”

Arturo shared that approximately 80% of the entrepreneurs Centro has supported since its inception have been women. When asked why, he said he believes women are more likely to seek help & training and have a desire to work and build community with other entrepreneurs to create a system of support as they embark upon their path to financial freedom.

Little Moon Bakehouse is a Centro company. Annie started Little Moon Bakehouse to make sustainable Asian pastries by lessening the environmental impact of food production. …

“everything is vegan, and we use compostable packaging.”

Eliminating animal products from food production can have a significantly positive environmental impact. Since many baked goods rely heavily on animal products such as eggs and milk, Annie faced an uphill battle that required reimagining baked pastries.

Arturo and Annie both underscore the importance of community support, intentional values, and perseverance in building impactful businesses. Whether it’s providing resources for underserved entrepreneurs or creating climate-friendly bakery items, both guests demonstrate the power of purpose-driven work in our Oakland community.