Passing Along More Than Recipes with Jalen’s Bakery

—LEAVING A— Legacy

PASSING ALONG MORE THAN RECIPES WITH JALEN’S BAKERY

Story by Rachel Triguero | Photos by Dakota Jacobi

OMING FROM A STRONG LINE OF WOMEN,

Sharhonda Mahan is continuing the legacy and instilling greatness in her young son. At the age of 8, Jalen Mahan became CEO of his fourth business and at 13, he is running a successful kitchen with his mom.

A home-based bakery with a license for commercial kitchen use to ship nationwide, Jalen’s Bakery offers vegan chocolate chip cookies and vegan pancake mix. “Our vegan products are absolutely delicious. Providing exceptional products and customer service is our highest priority,” Mahan says.

In addition to mixing and baking, the company gives back to their community by providing mentorship, job training and spreading opportunity to teens and families in high-poverty neighborhoods.

What started with giving cookies and pies to family and friends for the holidays has become a full-time business for the two. “It was definitely his idea to start this,” Mahan says. “Entrepreneurship was a subject I added to my homeschooling curriculum with my son at an early age.” Mahan believes in not only chasing after her own dreams, but also inspiring and equipping the younger generation to do the same.

The supermom reflects on her own childhood and recalls, “When I was younger, I watched my mother running her own business and saw the entrepreneurial side from her. Before she passed away, she helped me get my own photography business started as a teenager. I have to instill every great thing in my son that she instilled in me.”4 continued on page 34

Photo by Monica Fatica Photo by Monica Fatica

Based out of Fresno, Jalen’s delectable goodies can be purchased at Shep’s Cafe in downtown Fresno, Tower Blendz in the tower district, Planet Vegan food truck or on their website. Whenever possible, they buy their ingredients from other local vendors. “We really love supporting local,” Mahan says.

Baked goods are certainly the sweet spot for the company, but there’s more than meets the eye. The two have designed inspirational apparel to help spread positivity and love to others to keep going toward their dreams despite any obstacles. In addition, they incorporate kids as much as possible into the business. “I hear so many stories from other kids interested in trying business. Before the pandemic hit, we had kids doing pop-ups with us, which is a great outlet,” she says. “They’re able to experience what it’s like having their own business.”

Mahan is often asked how she got her son interested in business and entrepreneurship. “My answer is always the same. If you can teach it to them when they’re young, they won’t even think about it. It’s like brushing their teeth. It’s just something they do. Don’t force it on them, but put it all around them. We had books everywhere so he could see it all the time.”

Luckily for this generation, the options are endless when it comes to searching for successful kidpreneurs. “Once a kid finds something they like, you can hone in on it and find other kids who have been successful doing that same thing,” Mahan says.

How do you teach your child if you don’t know how to do it yourself? “Learn with your kid!” Mahan says, “I needed financial training, so I started a finance class when we started this business and I would come home and teach him everything I had just learned.”

As for the future, the duo hopes to be in stores nationwide with their products and are gradually making progress toward that goal. “We will continue to chase our goals and dreams until they come into fruition so that we can be living proof that it is possible,” Mahan says. •

www.jalensbakery.com

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