Who we are

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Sobre nosotros

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Who we are * Sobre nosotros *

The HEN Collectives seeks to uplift immigrant and BIPOC aspiring entrepreneurs in Hampden County by compiling existing business resources—such as grant writing, business registration, and relevant business laws—into accessible languages through translation. Our goal is to increase the number of local businesses, bridge language gaps, and foster a strong network of business owners.

  • Iris Liu

    Co-founder

    “I think financial freedom is essential for every community, and business owners with diverse and innovative ideas deserve the resources they need to bring them to life. As a Mathematical Statistics major and Economics minor, I will provide data-driven and easy-to-understand solutions to help navigate obstacles in business creation.”

  • Madeline Mayes

    Co-founder

    “As the daughter of an immigrant father from Honduras and a mother who is a small-business owner, I am passionate about helping underserved communities flourish in their entrepreneurial goals! As a Spanish and Film & Media Studies major and Translation studies concentrator, I am dedicated to improving accessibility in media and and providing thoughtful and intentional translation services.”

  • Alejandra Garcia Pollis

    Co-founder

    "Having access to all the resources that we need to achieve our goals, like starting a business, is incredibly important, not just for ourselves as individuals but our communities too! Being a Biology major, I'm bringing with me research skills and the ability to turn that research into actionable items that we're using to guide the HEN Collective and center our goal primary of accessibility for everyone."

Founded by students, approved by professionals.

Fundado por estudiantes, aprobado por profesionales.

The HEN Collective was founded by Smith students wanting to help their local immigrant communities in the wake of political turmoil. Dedicated to providing a reliable, accessible information, we have:

  • consulted with Smith College’s in-residence entrepreneur, Gillian Isabelle, Ph.D.

  • sought the mentorship of Peter Irvine, a corporate attorney based in Northampton, MA

  • confirmed Spanish translations with faculty from the Smith College Spanish & Portuguese department

  • collaborated with native Spanish speakers on Spanish translation fluidity

The HEN Collective ha sido fundado por estudiantes de la universidad de Smith College que querían ayudar a su comunidad de inmigrantes local durante una época de agitación política. Estamos dedicados proveer información fiable en una manera accesible. Hemos:

  • consultado con empresarios, que trabajan en Smith College, incluyendo Gillian Isabelle, Ph.D

  • buscado la mentoría de Peter Irvine, un abogado corporativo basado en Northampton, MA

  • confirmado traducciones al español con profesores del departamento de español y portugués del Smith College

  • colaborado con hablantes nativos de español en la fluidez de las traducciones al español