Celebrating 30 Years of Impact
Courtney is creating fun and nurturing spaces for kids on the autism spectrum.
Courtney Lewis has dedicated her life to championing pediatric mental health in New Mexico, a state that consistently ranks last for children’s well-being. As the CEO of two small businesses, Courtney is providing services that prioritize the emotional well-being of our children and the caretakers who support them.
DreamSpring worked with Courtney on a $350,000 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to launch We Rock the Spectrum Westside Albuquerque, an accessible and inclusive gym that helps kids on the autism spectrum feel safe, regulated, and validated. “There's nothing in the world like seeing your purpose — the thing you dreamed up — happen,” she says.
On Santa Clara pueblo, Rosemary’s artistic vision grew beyond barriers toward a future without limits.
When multimedia artist Rosemary Lonewolf began developing commissioned public artwork, she found she needed support to fill in the gaps between project funding cycles. During the long months when she didn’t receive a paycheck, Rosemary resorted to credit cards while applying for loans.
The Santa Clara pueblo member discovered that she was unable to secure traditional financing because her home, seated on tribal land, was held in trust by the federal government. A $20,000 loan from DreamSpring gave Rosemary the breathing room she needed to grow her body of art to new heights in both scale and acclaim. “You can work with your mind clear,” she says, “and that’s extremely important for an artist.”
With diversity as his North Star, Mark is building immersive worlds and a sustainable business model.
Tens of millions of players worldwide experience the joy of breathing life into a beloved character through tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons. But rather than tell just one kind of fantasy-adventure story, Magpie Games CEO/Co-Owner Mark Diaz Truman explains, Magpie is intentional about uplifting diverse voices. Their original titles include tales of teenage superheroes and feminine horror, reflecting the diversity of Magpie’s in-house creative staff.
A $202,500 Small Business Administration (SBA) loan from DreamSpring is helping Magpie transition into a forward-looking business model — one that expands Magpie’s creative horizons while making a lasting contribution to the industry. “Working with DreamSpring felt like a partnership to me from minute one,” Mark says. “It was about the power we build together, not the power one institution has over another.”
Yashoda went from serving customers at her restaurant to serving a national community of entrepreneurs.
When Yashoda Naidoo first came to DreamSpring, she bravely offered her business plan — written on a napkin — and a Honda Civic as collateral toward a loan for her dream restaurant. Yashoda now owns and operates four Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Café restaurants, employing dozens of people. Along the way, Yashoda volunteered as a DreamSpring mentor, offering her guidance and support to other business owners.
Almost two decades later, Yashoda became the first former client to lead DreamSpring as Board Chair. She has proudly served as a board member every year since. “Both my story and DreamSpring’s own entrepreneurial journey are proof that ‘impossible,’ audacious dreams can become successful realities when the people behind them are afforded economic opportunity, sprinkled with hope and encouragement,” she says.
Steven isn't just supporting artists at his gallery — he's putting his community on a pedestal.
In the heart of Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood, Steven CW Taylor is bending the trajectory of the art world by investing in the community he grew up in. A globetrotting fine art photographer, Steven is deeply invested in the African philosophy of Ubuntu — the interconnectedness that unites all people. His Ubuntu Fine Art gallery aims to live up to its name by creating more equity and access within the arts.
Steven capitalized on a partnership between crowdfunding investment platform Honeycomb Credit and DreamSpring, which provided him with nearly $27,000 in matching funds to fuel the business. “I've felt like a person and not a number,” he says. “There’s appreciation for my business, for my story, for me, and for my community of Germantown.”
