After leaving Bangladesh in 2000, Ireen Sultana’s migration journey ultimately brought her to Los Angeles in 2023. Starting over in a new city, Ireen was looking for guidance on how to navigate everyday life. She found that support at South Asian Network (SAN), where she was warmly welcomed by a team that helped her build new skills, create connections, and leverage her strengths.
Through SAN, Ireen enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) and computer classes, making remarkable progress while becoming an active member of their community. Along the way, she shared another part of herself: her love of cooking. Ireen specializes in traditional Bangladeshi cuisine, preparing dishes and regional specialties that are not often accessible outside Bangladesh.
In support of her passion, SAN began ordering food from her for programs and celebrations, giving others the opportunity to experience her cooking. Her culinary skills quickly stood out, and SAN encouraged her to explore turning her craft into a business through its Small Business Program.
Today, while continuing to work full-time, Ireen is growing her home-based catering business, “Culinary Creations by Ireen,” rooted in her culinary traditions and heritage. She is well known in her local community and remains actively engaged with SAN, participating in workshops and receiving one-on-one support to run a successful home-based restaurant. With guidance from SAN’s Small Business team, she is registering her business, gathering the necessary documentation, strengthening her online presence, pursuing a small business loan, and working toward obtaining her Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO) certification.
Ireen’s journey reflects what is possible when immigrant entrepreneurs have access to trusted, culturally responsive support from organizations such as SAN. SAN supports entrepreneurs across Southern California as they build businesses that create economic opportunity, connect communities, preserve culture, and strengthen the neighborhoods they call home.