Community Education
Nuestras Raíces offers a variety of community education programs centered on food justice, community leadership, and economic development for individuals and small businesses.
Empresarios Comunitarios
Empresarios Comunitarios (Community Entrepreneurs) is helping promising and potential entrepreneurs to scale up, achieve their full potential, create new jobs in the community, and become economically self-sufficient.
Every Wednesday from March 15th through April 26th 2023, Nuestras Raices will host a seven-week educational program focused on providing financial and business management assistance to community entrepreneurs based in the Holyoke/Springfield/Chicopee area. The program will offer bilingual lessons covering topics such as business and property insurance, permitting, bookkeeping, savings and emergency funds, investing, marketing and business planning, and more. The program includes all the materials and resources available to help the individual succeed in the class.
Participants will receive $50 upon attending all lessons and opening a savings account! Contact Kendy Capois at (413) 535-1789 ext. 204 or kcapois@nuestras-raices.org to enroll.
ServSafe Certification (CLASES EN ESPAÑOL)
Since the start of the program, Nuestras has helped over 100 business owners and professionals obtain their ServSafe® certification.
Nuestras Raices commissioned a ServSafe® certified professional to instruct a series of ServSafe® courses for community members interested in becoming certified Food Handlers. All lessons and exams are offered in Spanish and hosted at Nuestras Raices’ Main St location (329 Main St, Holyoke, MA 01040).
Classes are held in May and November, with upcoming courses occurring on June 22nd-23th 2023 from 5 pm-8 pm, and the exam on November 24th 2022 from 9 am-12:30 pm. Interested community members can bring the $75 enrollment fee to Nuestras Raices' Main St location, or call (413) 535-1789 ext. 204 for more details!
Sugar Cookie Workshop with Chef Sandra Hernandez (Bilingual Course)
This introductory course teaches basic sugar cookie preparation and decoration. Chef Sandra Hernandez will show three designs and five decoration technicians utilizing royal icing and fondant.
On January 11 to February 15 from 5:30 pm-8pm, local chef Sandra Hernandez will host an introductory cookie decorating workshop at 329 Main St, Holyoke, MA 01040. All required materials will be provided, such as cookie cutters and food coloring. All community members are welcome to enroll! Simply bring your $75 registration fee to Nuestras Raices' Main St location to join.
Call (413) 535-1789 ext. 206 or email rrosario@nuestras-raices.org with any questions.
Technical Assistance
Nuestras Raices staff are available to provide technical assistance to local business owners and entrepreneurs, specifically food enterprises such as restaurants and bakeries.
Support services include application support for PPP loans, guidance through COVID-19 phasing and reopening, direction on permitting, access to local agencies, and use of Nuestras Raices’ commercial kitchens and business space.
Our Partners


Support a more equitable food system!
Donate to Nuestras Raices online to join the movement for better food access for all.