Worcester Business Journal

16 Worcester Business Journal | August 22, 2022 | wbjournal.com 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y At 25, Aguilar started her own company: the first plastic-free gift shop in Worcester. She opened her brick-and-mortar store inside the Worcester Public Market the same month COVID-19 hit, but persevered to not only remain open, but championed fellow entrepreneurs. Her unique Kommon Sense Co. shop specializes in locally and ethically sourced gifts, with a focus on educating consumers about reducing their carbon footprints. She works with other minority entrepreneurs to elevate sustainability in business, organize pop-up markets and events, and cre- ate opportunities for local artisans. Aguilar sells Kommu- nity stickers in her store, the proceeds of which go to local nonprofits. Around Christmas time each year, she hosts the Kommunidad Para Navidad fundraiser, where she helps provide gifts and dinner to more than 100 kids in El Salvador. Aguilar is active in Worcester's elections and helps plan the Worcester Pride celebration. - Profile written by Katherine Hamilton What will Central Mass. will be like in 10 years? If Worcester residents continue to vote for local officials who are actual Worcester residents and have lived here prior to 2016, then we are on the right path. This city is so diverse with languages, cultures, and foods. I hope that never gets lost, no matter how much money developers throw at us. What key to business success do most people not know? Be your genuine self. Know what you and your company stand for, and stick to it! I'm not everyone's cup of tea, and that's okay; I'd rather be my own shot of tequila anyways. ;) Katherine Aguilar, 28 Founder & CEO Kommon Sense Co., in Worcester Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Cuisnahuat, Sonsonate, El Salvador Colleges: Worcester State University, Quinsigamond Community College Calixto uses her talent and time to ensure that artists from Worcester's communities of color have space to perform and display their work, as space becomes scarcer. Calixto founded El Salón in 2019 at The Bridge community center, and it was one of several ousted from the space when it was pegged for a housing development in 2021. Under Calixto's lead- ership, El Salón won the first residency at the Worcester PopUp in the Jean McDonough Arts Center in 2021. The residency, named Take Space, consisted of four events, a gallery showing, a performance night, a film screening, all featuring work from local artists of color, and a block party. The indoor events brought in more than 200 people from all over the Northeast. More than 700 people from Greater Worcester attended the block party, showing the level of success the organization, already successful on its own, could achieve with access to a budget. El Salón organized the spring 2022 season of Worcester Windows, displaying the works from artists of color throughout downtown. - Profile written by Timothy Doyle Who is most responsible for the person you are today? My parents, Sandra Alvarez-Calixto and Saul Calixto. As migrants making the decision to flee from their home country, leaving behind the only things they knew to come to a place promising a better life, is not an easy decision to make, contrary to popular belief. They made sacrifices to ensure a better life, if not for them but for their children. They allowed me to have the opportunity to make my own decisions based on what makes me happy, which is a luxury they did not always have. For that, I am grateful. Vanessa Calixto, 31 Founder & creative director El Salón, in Worcester Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Worcester PHOTO/ERIKA SIDOR Photo shoot with Worcester Walls murals at Jacob Hiatt Magnet School (Special thanks to Jessica Walsh and Che Anderson)

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