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Yari DeJesus, the new Director of Economic Development at the MACDC, boasts a career deeply rooted in service to others. DeJesus's journey began in 2013 at the Lynn Housing Authority. Here, she found her passion in helping the veteran homeless population and those teetering on the brink of homelessness through Supportive Services for Veteran Families programs (SSVF) and the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). After recognizing that many veterans were unaware of their entitlement to additional financial resources, she bridged the gap between them and the city of Lynn, which provided supplemental funding to eligible veterans. Her work over those four years placed her firmly within the economic development space, by providing invaluable support to the veteran community. 

In 2018, Yari entered a new role at Northeastern University as the Assistant Director of the Center for the Advancement of Veterans and Servicemembers, where she continued her work with veterans, this time connecting them to educational programs and helping them utilize their GI Bill benefits post-military service. 

Yari DeJesus, then earned her Master's degree in Public Administration from Northeastern University which sparked a new direction in her career, leading her more in-depth into community economic development. It was her time at Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) that shaped her journey and reinforced her commitment to the field. At JPNDC, she found herself working mostly with small businesses. She provided technical assistance, guiding businesses on how to secure loans, create their business plans, marketing and gain access to capital. Her role didn't just stop at financial advice; Yari was instrumental in helping these businesses unlock a wealth of resources within their communities. 

Yari extended her expertise by enrolling in the MKI Business Development Certificate Program a partnership with Cambridge College, Mel King Institute for Community Building, and Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). When asked about her experience with the program, she enthusiastically affirmed, "This program provides small business technical assistance providers with the necessary tools to effectively guide small business owners." For her, the program's value extended beyond teaching the basics of business plan basics and marketing fundamentals. It highlighted the importance of preparation for access to capital, a critical aspect often overlooked by startup businesses. She observed that many new businesses that aimed for assistance needed more initial capital for essential investments such as equipment, legal costs, insurance, and transportation. The MKI program highlighted that to secure funding from organizations, banks, or Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), business owners must be adequately prepared, a lesson she continues to use in her current role at MACDC.   

Among the many skills that Yari DeJesus improved during her time in the MKI Business Development Certificate Program, she emphasized the importance of accounting. "The Bookkeeping piece was so crucial for me," Yari said, reflecting on her experience. "Having QuickBooks and ensuring that every transaction and expenditure is accounted for is key." Yari emphasized that thorough record-keeping could help small business owners stay organized and avoid financial chaos at the end of the year and forecast. She also pointed out the importance of keeping business and personal accounts separate and ensuring that funds are invested properly. Another valuable lesson she learned from the program was the importance of payroll management: "One thing I learned at the certificate program was the significance for business owners to have a correct payroll system". Such insights demonstrate the practical and tangible benefits of the program, equipping participants like Yari with the tools necessary to assist small business owners effectively. 

 The MKI will be offering the Business Development Certificate Program again this year, starting in March 2024. The program will consist of 6 modules held over 12 half days of training and will be conducted online via Zoom. The courses will be taught by faculty from Cambridge College as well as seasoned business professionals and attorneys from Lawyers for Civil Rights. To register for the program, please click HERE.