Riverside Coworking

Oct 15, 2025 | Business

Riverside Coworking

Where Business, Wellness, and Community Thrive in Fort Worth

Fort Worth, Texas — In the Riverside neighborhood of Fort Worth, a new resource is taking shape to empower entrepreneurs and families alike. Riverside Coworking, a social enterprise under the Center for Transforming Lives, combines coworking space, maker studios, health services, childcare, and support programs all aimed at helping single mothers and small business owners flourish.

“We want to be the place for all entrepreneurs,” Jackson explains. “Instead of going to multiple locations around Tarrant County, here everything is housed under one roof and the costs are designed to be affordable.”

Rhea Jackson

Coworking Manager, Riverside Coworking

A Hub for Business Innovation & Collaboration

Riverside Coworking offers:

Meeting rooms that serve groups from 2 to 50
Open desk areas and dedicated desk spaces
A commercial kitchen with 24/7 access
A teaching kitchen for demonstrations and cooking classes
A maker space equipped with tools for small-scale production and marketing
Media studios (video and podcast/sound) for content creation

Health & Wellness Integrated On Site

One of the most distinctive features of Riverside Coworking is its integration with the Center for Transforming Lives’ Mobile Health Partners program. According to their website, this program brings essential health services directly to the Riverside campus. (transforminglives.org)

Here’s how health services are woven into the mission:

The Center for Transforming Lives partners with mobile health providers to make prenatal, pediatric, and women’s wellness care accessible to families.These health services are co-located with other programs so parents, especially single mothers, can address their healthcare needs without extra travel or scheduling burdens.
This integration supports the Center’s holistic, trauma-informed, two-generational model: caring for both mothers and children simultaneously.

By combining wellness and business support, Riverside Coworking reduces one of the major barriers many families face: fragmented access to services.

Community Support, Economic Mobility & More

The Center for Transforming Lives (formerly the YWCA) has a longstanding presence in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Its mission and services include:

Early Childhood Education through Head Start and Early Head Start programs (serving children ages 0–5)
Economic Mobility programs: financial literacy, one-on-one coaching, career readiness, and small business development
Homeless and Housing Services, offering rapid re-housing and long-term leasing support
Clinical Counseling Services, which serve women and children with trauma-informed mental health care

These services align closely with Riverside Coworking’s mission. Many of the small business participants are single mothers seeking to build a second income to support their families. The center creates a fertile environment for growth by combining workspace, resources, and wraparound support.

Encouraging Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs

Jackson emphasizes that Riverside Coworking is more than just desks and kitchens. It’s a community, a place where:

Entrepreneurs can collaborate and cross-pollinate ideas
Small business owners access tools and services that might otherwise be out of reach
Families receive support on multiple fronts from childcare to health to business development

“We’ve seen powerful connections happen here,” Jackson says. “This space gives people a platform, whether they’re working at a desk, cooking in the commercial kitchen, or recording in the studio to grow together.”

Visit Riverside Coworking

The Riverside campus is located at: 3001 S. Riverside Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76119
https://riversidecoworking.org

“This isn’t just about coworking,” Jackson reflects. “It’s about creating a space where business, health, and community intersect — where people are supported in every part of their journey.”

Meet Gina Saad and YourPersonal broker.com

Oct 10, 2025 | Business

Meet Gina Saad and YourPersonal broker.com

A Legacy in Real Estate, A Vision for the Future

For more than 25 years, Gina Saad has dedicated her career to helping Californians achieve the dream of homeownership. A proud California native born in Brawley, raised in West Covina, and later a homeowner in Victorville at just 19 years old, Saad’s journey in real estate began early.

“My dad was a real estate broker. He got his license in 1975, so it was truly the family business,” she shared. “I earned my license at 18 and my broker’s license at 21. From the beginning, I had a passion for helping homebuyers attain the American dream.”

Over the years, Gina has held leadership positions in multiple real estate franchise brokerages, most recently serving as a managing broker for a large cloud-based firm overseeing thousands of agents across California. It was during this time she recognized a critical issue in the industry a training and comprehension gap affecting many new agents entering the field.

Bridging the Gap: YourPersonalBroker.com

“Many agents are launched into the industry without fully understanding the day-to-day contracts they need to work with,” Gina explained. “That’s why I created YourPersonalBroker.com to support brokers as they train and guide their agents.”

Unlike most tools that focus exclusively on agents, Gina’s platform centers on broker support.

“Sometimes a broker needs a broker,” she said. “Brokers are expected to do it all lead, train, recruit, market, supervise. My goal is to give them back time in their day and provide a system that supports their agents 24/7.”

Your Personal Broker combines in-person training with AI-powered on-demand support through its proprietary ASK tool. This innovative platform allows agents to access real-time forms clarity and professional communication support at any hour, addressing the reality that real estate doesn’t stop at 5 p.m.

Technology Meets Experience

“Brokers want to support their agents, but the truth is, time is scarce,” Gina noted. “If ASK can give brokers back even an hour a day or a week to focus on growing their business, recruiting, or marketing, then we’ve created something meaningful. It’s a time-saving partner for brokers and their agents.”

The ASK platform is fully web-based and accessible through yourpersonalbroker.com , integrating next-generation AI support with Gina’s hands-on approach.

Rooted in Community and Family

Gina lives with her family in Yucaipa, California. She credits her husband and three daughters for their unwavering support as she embarks on this new chapter.

“As a woman business owner, launching YourPersonal broker.com during Women’s Small Business Month is incredibly special,” she said. “I’m proud to build something that uplifts an industry I’ve loved my entire life.”

Connect with Your Personal Broker

Brokers and agents can visit yourpersonalbroker.com to sign up and explore ASK, or follow the company on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at YourPersonalBroker.com or https://www.yourpersonalbroker.com/

About Gina Saad: 

Gina Saad is a California real estate broker with more than 25 years of leadership experience. A second-generation real estate professional, she has overseen thousands of agents statewide and is passionate about bridging the training gap in the industry.

MaaPaa | Single mothers raising their sons to their highest

Oct 7, 2025 | Community

MaaPaa | Single mothers raising their sons to their highest

Hispanic Lifestyle spoke with Nelly Cuenca, the founder of MaaPaa, a nonprofit organization catered towards single mothers raising their sons to their highest potential. During our conversation with Nelly, she spoke about why the organization exists and its mission.

Connecting Faith and Business 2025 | Illuminate

Oct 7, 2025 | Community, Events

Connecting Faith and Business 2025 | Illuminate

Once a year, entrepreneurs, speakers, faith leaders, and business professionals come together to connect, grow, and be inspired. Connecting Faith and Business (CFB) is a celebration of purpose-driven entrepreneurship and this year’s conference promises to shine brighter than ever.

In a time marked by economic uncertainty and spiritual fatigue, small business owners stand as beacons of light in their communities illuminating paths of integrity, hope, and opportunity. The 2025 theme, “Illuminate,” invites entrepreneurs to explore how faith can inform vision, guide decisions, and inspire meaningful impact through business.

“Faith and business are not separate worlds they are deeply connected. When we lead with our values and let faith guide our decisions, our businesses become instruments of positive change,” said Hilda Kennedy, President of AmPac Business Capital and Founder of the Connecting Faith & Business Conference. “This year, we’re challenging every attendee to be a light to inspire others, to lead with courage, and to build communities grounded in hope and opportunity.”

Event Overview
17th Annual Connecting Faith & Business Conference
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Ontario Convention Center | Ontario, California

Hundreds of faith-based business owners and leaders from across Southern California will gather for a full day of insight, collaboration, and inspiration.

This year’s program will include interactive workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, and the Be a Light Challenge, encouraging attendees to align their professional goals with purpose and service.

Register Today
Join us for this transformative day of faith and entrepreneurship.

Reserve your spot now: https://qrco.de/cfb25

Event Schedule Highlights

8:45 AM – 9:20 AM
Opening Worship & Inspiration
Featuring Pastor Marco Garcia, The Way World Outreach
Invocation: “Illuminate: Let Your Light Shine”

9:20 AM – 9:50 AM
Illumination Tip: Cybersecurity
Presented by Eddie Darmawan, D1 Defend

9:55 AM – 10:35 AM
Reflect & Plan: How Your Business Can Be Light
Interactive session moderated by Mary Barnett

11:15 AM – 12:05 PM
Panel 1 | Beyond the Bottom Line: Business as a Beacon
Panelists:
Celeste Etheridge, We Care Daycare
Donald J. Scheffler, Donald J. Scheffler Construction
Jim Ely, U.S. Bank
Moderator: Tom Steele

12:05 PM – 12:45 PM
Networking Luncheon & Awards Presentation

12:45 PM – 1:10 PM
Be a Light Challenge – Powered by The Barnabas Group
Moderated by Jeff Abbott & Michael Garcia

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Panel 2 | Lighting the Way for Your Team

Panelists:
Zachary Oliver, Dependable Breakroom Solutions
Matthew Theyer, Arrow Staffing
Chida Warren, Rebecca & Company, LLC
Mark Guirius, Homemasters International
Moderator: Vikita Poindexter

2:25 PM – 2:55 PM
Keynote Presentation: Illuminating Business Resilience
Speaker: Dr. Reggie Thomas

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Bright Side Social – Networking Reception
Featuring light bites and meaningful connections.

Program subject to change without notice.

Why Attend?
At Connecting Faith & Business 2025, attendees will:
Hear from entrepreneurs who lead with integrity and compassion.
Discover actionable strategies to integrate faith into leadership.
Engage with small business resource providers and community partners.
Network with like-minded professionals who believe business can be a force for good.

Whether you are a solo entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or corporate professional, CFB 2025 offers the inspiration and tools to help your business shine.

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS BY Richard Sandoval

16th Annual Connecting Faith and Business Summit

Through Our Lens | Hollywood in Focus

Oct 2, 2025 | Entertainment

Through Our Lens | Hollywood in Focus

Highlight the achievements, talents, and stories of the entertainers shaping our culture.

By Richard Sandoval

I’ve been in the media industry for 30 years. I mark my “official” start in August 1995, when I picked up the very first edition of a newsletter I produced called the Inland Empire Hispanic Business Update.

What began with the printed word soon evolved into video postings and a television program that broadcasted on several PBS stations throughout the United States. My first celebrity sit-down interview was with actress Maria Canals-Barrera, and I vividly remember showing off my brand-new camera at the time. As technology advanced, so did my passion. I invested in better cameras, which opened the door to still photography.

By 2004, I began taking photography seriously, and by 2010, I was fully committed to honing my craft behind the lens. Since then, every interview I’ve conducted has often been accompanied by a camera in hand, capturing candid moments that bring stories to life. I love preserving the passions, expressions, and insights that emerge during an interview.

Capturing the Community at Its Best
I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve interviewed and photographed over the years it’s safe to say it’s a lot. My guiding belief has always been that our community deserves to be showcased at its very best. We work hard to select images that represent the authenticity and energy of each moment.
From Hispanic Lifestyle in-person productions to Hollywood red-carpet events, we’ve documented countless memories. Our platform has featured more than 30,000 photographs and received millions of views. Many of these high-resolution images appear on HispanicLifestyle.com and are often integrated into our video features.

Thank you for being part of my journey and for taking the time to view and share these images.

Behind the Lens: My Tools of the Trade

Today, I use a combination of tools to capture images and video:
iPhone 15 (with plans to upgrade to the 17 soon)
Canon XF605 Video Camera
Canon EOS R6 Mark II

For editing, I work on a Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip, using Final Cut Pro X for video and Pixelmator Pro for photo editing and graphic design. These tools help me deliver the quality content that reflects our community’s vibrancy.

Faces We’ve Captured
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing and interviewing a remarkable list of artists, entertainers, athletes, and community icons, including:
Gina Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, Eva LaRue, Justina Machado, Efren Ramirez, Michelle Rodriguez, Yvonne DeLaRosa, Aimee Garcia, Eva Longoria, Lana Parrilla, Cote de Pablo, Andy Garcia, Antonio Banderas, Cesar Millan, Aubrey Plaza, Francia Raisa, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba, Mariachi Divas, Danny Pino, Christina Aguilera, Josefina Lopez, Daisy Fuentes, Natalie Martinez, Simone Biles, Robert Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Mario Lopez, Kate del Castillo, Stephanie Beatriz, Lou Diamond Phillips, Wilmer Valderrama, Benjamin Bratt, Esai Morales, Charo, Jenni Rivera, Kenny Ortega, Constance Marie, Cheech Marin, Zoe Saldana — and so many more.

These moments remind me why I started: to highlight the achievements, talents, and stories of the people shaping our culture.