We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Mercado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my business was the fact that, at the time I was homeless and needed to come up with a solution to end my homelessness. I knew how to bake cookies,so thus the creation of Sweet Mission.

What should our readers know about your business?
I own/operate a small 3 time award winning homemade fresh baked cookie catering company called Sweet Mission. I started Sweet Mission back in Philadelphia on June 1st 2012 under the name of Just Cookies.. At the start of Just Cookies…,it was the answer to a problem,and that problem was that I had gotten laid off from my job and ended up homeless. I became a part of the Occupy Philadelphia movement where I started connecting with people and explored resources that would ultimately lead .me to a scholarship for a 12 week business course,an organization that provided me with seed money as well as a place to bake and Housing in shelter. In Oct of 2013,I moved to California in hopes to relaunch my company. I then changed the name to Sweet Mission. The biggest challenge has been trying to secure funding (and we are still working on that) The proudest moment is when we were mention on The Steve Harvey Show. Though we still have a long ways to go,I will never give up on my mission with this company to be in the position to provide employment for those who come from a vulnerable population or background.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shout out to EVERYONE that supported my company when it started out in 2012 as Just Cookies… up until its’ present name Sweet Mission. To every individual and organization that has purchased a dessert from Sweet Mission or offered advice,encouragement,and support THANK YOU!!

Instagram: @sweet_mission

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetmissioncookie/

Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/sweet-mission-santa-ana

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