From Passion to Commitment: the Story of Emmanuel Baltazar
It goes without saying, the world is full of brilliant ideas. Our role is to find a way to support them. Entrepreneurs Of Tomorrow (EOT) does that. The goal of this no-profit is to teach entrepreneurship to the next generation. They call them Youthpreneurs, a name made out to identify this circle of students with great talent and original ideas.
As Fashion On The Beat and garden of curls we decided to play our part by interviewing and sharing the projects of the EOT’s competition “#PitchForYaLife” participants. The one we recount here is the story of Emmanuel Baltazar, winner of the Jasco Philanthropies Grant , who turned his passion for a sport into a meaningful project of basketball court restoration.
Courtesy of Emmanuel Baltazar
Emmanuel, did you find basketball or basketball found you? Tell us about your path.
Basketball definitely found me. Before entering high school, I enjoyed soccer or football more. However, my high school's basketball presence was strong, so naturally, I had no choice but to learn. The more I played the more my interest in this sport grew, and I began closely following the NBA. Through playing pickup games, 21, and even just shooting around, I have been able to grow with others and challenge myself constantly to get better. Basketball has soon gone from a simple sport to a workout for my mind and body.
Courtesy of Emmanuel Baltazar
Is it wrong to say that there is a common thread between your new passion and the project for the basketball court restoration? What moved you?
The idea for the court came to me when I visited my dad’s birthplace in Guatemala, Livingston. The court had deteriorated to the point that there were no rims for anyone to shoot a ball through. I decided to take the initiative to give access to the residents of this community to try a new sport at a safe public location. The impact sports accessibility can have can’t be undermined. In Guatemala, job opportunities can be rare, so my vision was to provide the youngest and the oldest a place to relax the mind and body. The basketball court restoration project was my attempt to serve a community with my resources and ideas.
Courtesy of Emmanuel Baltazar
Entrepreneurs are described and studied as diverse concepts. In your opinion, how can you profile an entrepreneurial attitude today?
By studying and hearing the stories of other entrepreneurs, I have come to understand that entrepreneurs walk in many different shapes and sizes. Each carries talents and passions and can combine them to start a business. The entrepreneurs that I see as successful were always willing to learn and continue to allow themselves to be students. To profile an entrepreneurial attitude, I will forever be a student and be ready to learn and gain experience.be a student of the game.
Courtesy of Emmanuel Baltazar
What did the EOT experience give you?
So far, my EOT experience has been aligning me to make my vision a reality. While I joined relatively late, I was given the proper support to be able to present at the Pitch For Ya Life Competition. Not only am I supported 24/7, but the education and network that EOT gradually allows me to access will let me turn my project into a non-profit or even a position within an organization.
What does the future hold for you?
I am currently conducting my second project, a sports-centered clothes drive to support the youth of Livingston, the same community where I did the basketball court restoration. We want to collect men’s and youth sizes to accommodate tropical and humid weather. My vision beyond clothes drives me to conduct more court construction and restoration projects to increase sports accessibility in Guatemala.
