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With a family legacy steeped in courage, Dawn Kelly becoming an entrepreneur was almost inevitable.
As the founder of The Nourish Spot, a healthy dining spot in New York City, Kelly’s small business journey began with big dreams. After a long career in the corporate sector, the realization of her potential as an entrepreneur took a significant turn during her participation in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.
With the help of that program and other training (including the New York Economic Development Corporation) his eyes were opened to his potential. “That’s when I realized I could do it,” she told Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media.
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Dawn Kelly drew and continues to draw inspiration from her mother and grandfather. He was a military veteran who settled with his family in Jamaica, Queens, after being denied housing elsewhere. Her lineage instilled in her the values of diligence and the meaning of an early start.
“I’m the oldest in my family, so one of the things my grandfather always taught me is that early sleepers get the worm,” Dawn says. That family legacy was carried on when Kelly started The Nourish Spot with her daughter.
The power of social media to build community
For Dawn Kelly, social media, especially Instagram and LinkedIn, are a powerful tool for storytelling and community building.
Embracing the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, Kelly appreciates the visual storytelling aspect of Instagram, using it to document her personal and professional journey.
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“I love taking photos. I always have. So what Instagram has allowed me to do, both personally and professionally, is document my journey,” says Kelly.
Through social media, capture moments, showcase your achievements and highlight the positive impact The Nourish Spot has on the local community.
“When I am no longer here there will be no doubt about what I was able to accomplish and the things that made me happy, as well as the benefits of what our business brings to our community, to our Jamaica, to the community of Queens and beyond.”
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