Claudia Ramirez’s story

I was a reporter and a singer in Colombia and moved to the US in 2004 to pursue my dreams. As a singer, I performed in several countries in South America, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and more. I came to the US in 2004 and it has been like being born all over again. I became Christian, learned English, and got familiar with the American way of life. I worked for some years for the main Spanish-speaking TV networks in South Florida and for Emilio and Gloria E. in a couple of TV musical projects. I never stopped singing, I am a good singer and that was my passion and a very profitable part-time job.

However, after I got married and with the arrival of my two daughters, I had to stop performing and TV production became impossible for me. My children needed me as I had to deal with some diagnoses and health issues at home. I felt stuck, frustrated, and somehow defeated but I knew I had to reinvent myself. I decided to get a local degree and my love for music drove me to a Bachelor’s in Music. I graduated from FIU with a good GPA. In 2019, I opened a company Leclu Music and Events LLC, and have worked for the past 2 years as a voice and music teacher and event organizer. My life has taken a 360 degree and I am as happy as ever. I am looking forward to growing, expanding, and to serve as an inspiration and example to others, especially immigrants and my family. God is good all the time.

 
This loan is special because:

It supports a female entrepreneur in expanding their business.

 
More about this loan

Business Description

Leclu Music and Events focuses on events production and music education and, one thing led to the other. I have been well known in my circle as a singer and events organizer. When you are a singer you meet tons of people and because people know that you work in TV production, people want you to help them with their events. That’s how it started. The singer has always been there, all along, but she has evolved. The singer went to school and became a TV producer, the TV producer became the event’s organizer, the event’s organizer went back to school and became a professional musician, the professional musician became a voice and music teacher and, the professional teacher became an entrepreneur and a business owner.

I now realized my business it’s not just starting. It began a long time ago but it’s now when I am putting all the pieces together with a business mentality, and I know I am ready to go to the next level. I know the way, I feel successful, confident, and happy and I want to lead people in my community to pursue and achieve; I want them to see that it’s possible to be an immigrant and not just merely survive but to thrive. I want the children, and the seniors in my community to have the best of the two worlds. The cultural richness of our Latin-American roots and the structure and endless possibilities of the greatest country in the world.

I want my community to have access to art education. In our countries, it’s a privilege, it's way too expensive. Here, it’s possible to have piano lessons or painting lessons or acting lessons just for the pleasure of taking them, recreationally, as part of your overall education. If you are good and talented, then you can follow a professional path, but there are options and opportunities and I want to show them that the third world mentality has to stay over there, that poverty did not follow here, that the only thing between you and your success is hard work. I don’t say it’s easy, but I can say it’s possible. I need Kiva to help me help them. I already found a great location and I am moving forward but I need your support to launch my first Art School. I need this establishment from where I can give as many services as possible to my community.

What is the purpose of this loan?

I need funding for my startup costs. Money is often the limiting factor preventing a business from opening. Many good business ideas are never funded and having enough capital represents the difference between a dream and a reality. For many people like me interested in growing a home-based business, getting the working capital, allocating the money wisely, and making enough profit to pay back the lenders is a must. Funds will insert cash flow, to strengthen the marketing and promotion, and to maintain afloat our school at the beginning of the operations, a school that especially will help minorities like the beautiful Latin community of Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and vicinity.

 
About Leclu Music and Events LLC

Industry: Education
Years in operation: 1 year - 3 years
Website: leclu.org