When it comes to boosting entrepreneurship in immigrant communities, the focus is often on resources, market strategies, or access to funding. But for the founder of BroPak, a venture rooted in Latino culture and fueled by a Boricua soul, the real driving force behind growth is community. And building community, as he has shown, is an act of strategic generosity, of walking alongside others, and of visionary thinking.
Benjamín Figueroa Medina is a young Puerto Rican entrepreneur who came to Philadelphia like many other young Boricuas after the events of 9/11, and like many more who arrived in the wake of Hurricane Maria. They are making the most of the opportunities and warm welcome the city has offered to create a home, launch businesses, generate employment, and, at the same time, build community.
DEEP ROOTS, LONG BRANCHES
Benjamín was born in Puerto Rico and lived there until he was about six years old, when his family moved to the U.S. Since then, he’s spent most of his life in Philadelphia, though he still returns to the island frequently, he feels his roots are there.
“My mother decided to emigrate because she wanted to give us a better life. She could already see from the news how the situation in Puerto Rico was deteriorating, especially when it came to services and support. She knew the future wasn’t guaranteed there, and without hesitation, she made the decision. Today I can say it was the best thing she could have done,” says the entrepreneur.
Thanks to his mother’s courage and hard work, he was able to graduate from college. He earned a degree in Arts and Communication from East Stroudsburg University, with a double major in Public Communication and Regulation. “My mother attended my graduation with pride, along with the rest of my family. She always taught us that we are the architects of our own destiny. We just have to work hard to make it happen.”
A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR IS BORN
During his college years, Benjamín noticed that many people starting businesses lacked the tools and knowledge to communicate their ideas effectively. He wanted to do something to help, especially for Latino communities facing multiple barriers. That’s how his company, BroPak, was born, even before he graduated.
“BroPak is a digital marketing and community development agency. We design strategies to strengthen online presence and promote collective growth. We offer everything from social media management, web design, brand development, and content creation to podcast production and resource development, such as grant support and community service connections,” he explains.
The company’s logo is a wolf, chosen to send a clear message: no one grows alone. Success happens in a pack. “In general, I prefer to stay in the background and highlight that what we’ve built is thanks to the team’s effort. This past year was especially significant—we grew more than expected and began operating full-time.”
BroPak teamed up with Delivering Services with Love (DSL) to launch an initiative called Nour Navi, a sort of “hope reboot.” The goal, Benjamín says, is to help communities recover the light they feel they’ve lost – especially in uncertain times – and to inspire new generations of entrepreneurs, leaders, and community workers to believe in themselves. To show them that there is a future and that they are not alone.
“In my work, I talk a lot with clients about communication problems. For example, many young people watch videos on TikTok that seem real, but they’re not. I teach them how to verify information and find reliable sources. I keep telling them: you have to step into the real world to understand what’s going on.”
He works with all kinds of entrepreneurs, from those just starting out with an idea on paper to business owners with 15 or 30 years of experience looking to reinvent themselves. Especially now, with economic challenges and constant changes in public policy, new strategies are needed.
“My vision is to build a resource development firm that is accessible and community-focused—offering everything from help with grants and information on community health to technical support in communication. BroPak aims to empower those who need it most economically, and we’ve created these services out of love for our people.”
Benjamín insists that today more than ever, we need to bring light back into our communities and return to the basics: listen, educate, act, rebuild from within. Hope grows in community.
Many entrepreneurs don’t know how to use social media, communicate clearly, or even put together a simple one-pager for their project. That was one of the reasons BroPak was born, with the idea of offering accessible, efficient, and socially-minded services to help small businesses –predominantly Latino ones– grow from the ground up.
“At BroPak, we don’t just design a strategy. We invest time, resources… so they can keep building and developing. And one of the things I enjoy most is seeing the return on that investment in the growth of their businesses,” Benjamín explains. “You can see how a shop changes its storefront, how they feel encouraged to put up new signs, rearrange the interior, or how their social media starts to take off and attract clients. It’s something tangible.”
BroPak has worked with all kinds of clients, from new entrepreneurs to long-established businesses. “One client in Oregon had been running her business for 15 years and had never imagined the impact a well-designed communication strategy could have. The change was amazing, and she was surprised by how much she could grow.”
This entrepreneur’s commitment isn’t just technical; he gets involved as if he were a temporary business partner for each client, sharing knowledge, networks, and comprehensive guidance. “Of course, there are also cases where someone presents a project to me, and I just don’t see a future for it, or I don’t believe in its mission. In those cases, I’m honest. I explain that I can’t commit if I don’t see clarity, though I always try to guide them on what part might work.”
That honesty has been key. “I’ve turned down big contracts because I didn’t see real purpose or community impact. I don’t want to do business just for the money. I’d rather focus on projects that truly contribute something to the community,” he says with conviction.
Collaboration is another core pillar of his philosophy. “One time, someone came to me for advice and said, ‘But you do the same thing I do, you’re the competition.’ I told him no. Everyone has their style and approach. I even offered to send him clients, and today he’s one of my closest partners. We share ideas and solutions; we help each other. That’s how community is built.”
His experience working with children, nonprofits, businesses, and even government agencies has taught him that everything is about seeing the big picture. “A mentor once told me: ‘This is not about you, it’s about the community.’ And she was right. For example, you don’t know what the person next to you is going through until you talk to them. Then you ask yourself: How can I help them feel better? You do it not just for yourself, but for every person beside you.”
That chain of mutual support is what gives his work meaning. “If someone shows up with a great talent, it’s not about feeling jealous, but about asking yourself: What can I learn from this person? How can I help them move forward? In the end, if you lift someone up, they’ll come back to help you too.”
BroPak doesn’t just offer web design, social media management, content creation, brand development, and resource development. Its proposal is an invitation to build from the inside—with purpose, honesty, and collective vision. “It’s not just about marketing. It’s about hope, about community, about the future. And that begins with small actions, brave decisions, and the sincere desire to see others shine too.”
Ben and the movement he co-founded, Nour Navi, aim to strengthen community entrepreneurs and build a more prosperous Philadelphia for everyone. With that goal in mind, a series of upcoming events is scheduled:
- July 26, at KCT: Workshop on “Financial Fundamentals and Credit Education.”
- August: “Leasing Contracts for Small Businesses” and “Business Incubator and Startup Launch.”
- September: “Contracts with the City and Government” and “Grants for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses.”
- October: “Advanced Business Techniques and Growth Strategies.”
- November: “Getting Informed on Policy and Civic Engagement.”
Inspired by its name,‘Nour’, meaning ‘light’ in Arabic, and ‘Navi’, meaning ‘prophet’ or ‘navigator’ in Hebrew and Sanskrit, Nour Navi embodies the spirit of a ‘Light Pioneer.’ The initiative serves as a beacon of knowledge, leadership, and support, lighting the way for those seeking to navigate their future with confidence and purpose.