Hidden Gems: Meet Brooklyn Hill-Arellano of The Cool Choice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooklyn Hill-Arellano.

Hi Brooklyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I’d been dreaming of starting a business that challenged kids to live a healthy lifestyle since 2015. I fell in love with the business name (The Cool Choice) back then as well, but I didn’t have the time or resources to get started. At the time, I was working as a teacher, taking classes and homemaking. My dreams of owning a business would have to wait.

An unfortunate opportunity came about when I was placed on bedrest while pregnant with my son in 2018. During that time, I decided to leave teaching and focus on staying home with him. After a few months at home, I realized that it was now or never to start my business. I took a business stimulator course January 2019 and opened The Cool Choice June 2019.

Opening the business turned out to be the easy part. The past two years I’ve worked relentlessly to build relationships and partnerships with parents, schools, and local agencies. We’re still in the building stages but, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of our community members and the support of my husband!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I took a leap of faith to the business, I didn’t imagine we’d be in a pandemic 9 months later. `I also loss my mom during that time which was an extreme emotional blow. I mention those two things above everything else because they’ve tested my will the most. I’m thankful the business still remains.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Cool Choice is a public health organization that provides programs, services and products to help children and families play, live and eat well.

Our mission is so broad because the need is. In schools we teach nutrition, horticulture, wellness. We are play advocates. Our Denver studio is a maker-space and food pantry. We’ve expanded to operating an urban farm (Petal and Herb Flower Farm). Eat Real Food is our public health campaign to help black and brown Families consume more nutrient dense food items. We specialize in healthy living and offer ethnically diverse, mission specific opportunities to children and families. I am most proud of that.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The need in the industry has grown astronomically and will continue to grow.

Pricing:

• Saturday’s Open DIY Studio $25 Ages 5-12

Contact Info:

• Email: contact@thecoolchoice.org
• Website: https://www.thecoolchoice.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecoolchoice
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoolchoice
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7iXmOHLWfaCnar-IbHZHvQ?view_as=subscriber
• Other: https://outschool.com/teachers/The-Cool-Choice

Image Credits:
Tamara Arellano, Xiomy Läufer