At Atlas Network’s 2021 Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner, Tere Nolla, from the Center for Economic Renewal, Growth, and Excellence (CRECE), was one of the contestants for the annual Think Tank Shark Tank competition. Nolla pitched a project called “Portraits of Prosperity: A Puerto Rican Perspective.” The project aimed to engage high school and university students through a photo contest to raise awareness of the entrepreneurial spirit that already exists on the island but is not often seen or celebrated.
In Nolla’s pitch, she described, “Through Portraits of Prosperity, we hope to inspire curiosity about entrepreneurship, raise awareness of entrepreneurial realities in Puerto Rico, and rouse support for policies that encourage economic freedom.” Less than a year after Nolla’s pitch, the project came to fruition.
CRECE, a non-profit think tank in Puerto Rico, focuses on cultivating market-based solutions to foster economic prosperity in three main areas: ease of doing business, poverty alleviation, and entrepreneurship. Although Puerto Rico is an island known for its rich culture, beautiful beaches, and of course Latino reggaeton, it is also a territory that has been devastated by natural disasters, economic crises, and poor governance in the past decade.
Although a recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring report revealed that only 30% of Puerto Ricans consider entrepreneurship to be a viable option for work, the current economic crisis has inspired a new surge of interest and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. CRECE intends to capitalize on this mindset shift, and the “Portraits of Prosperity” project aimed to show young people that entrepreneurship can be a path to sustainable prosperity.
“Success is contagious.” This was a key foundation for the project. By sharing hopeful success stories, CRECE has perpetuated more desire for growth and fostered an attitude of self-reliance among those whom the project engaged.
The project, completed this past spring, engaged 55 students representing 20 towns and 17 schools and universities throughout Puerto Rico. Photo submissions celebrated entrepreneurs in a wide range of industries, including construction, food and beverage, agriculture, retail, tech, and the arts. Following the contest submission deadline, a panel of judges convened to determine a first-, second-, and third-place winner who were awarded prizes, as well as a number of honorable mentions. An exhibit of the submissions was displayed in a gallery in San Juan with a celebratory opening night, followed by a multi-week exhibition period. The exhibit received nearly 800 visitors from 44 different towns and cities throughout Puerto Rico and the continental United States.
