Elijah Silva is just eight years old, but he has already launched two successful businesses, is CEO of his family’s nonprofit organization, has authored two books and is a contracted motivational speaker. It all began when he expressed his desire to run a lemonade stand at the age of four.
“Though I initially promised to make it happen, it wasn’t until the pandemic hit that I finally took action,” his mother, Delesia Silva, said. “Prompted by a friend who shared an article about Country Time Lemonade offering COVID relief funds to kids unable to operate stands, I was inspired to kickstart Elijah’s Gumdrop Lemonade venture.”
Elijah started his lemonade stand at five years old. With help from his parents, he set up shop twice a week for two hours near his home. The family was happy to connect with the community they have called home since 2016. The young business owner said, “I wanted to serve lemonade to our city, have fun, and make money.”
He figured out how much lemonade to make by seeing how much he could sell in an hour and made sure he had double the amount for the two hours he worked. “I sell around two and one-half gallons, which is around 24 16-oz. cups. My parents helped me figure out what price to charge, however, I know that revenue minus expenses equals profit,” Elijah said.
His lemonade stand opens in May from 3 to 5 p.m. two days a week, which fits everyone’s schedule and has resulted in commuter traffic making it an optimal time. “I am the CEO and my parents are my coworkers,” Elijah said. “I am on site each time. I also serve as a vendor at various festivals throughout the year.”
After the establishment of the lemonade stand, the enterprising young man told his mother he wanted a candy business and she felt that purchasing gumball machines was a simple way to start. Delesia said she was eager to nurture her son’s entrepreneurial spirit by helping him establish his second business venture.
“I like serving the community,” Elijah said. “I asked owners if I could place my gumball machine in their business and offered them a percentage of the profits.”
The Hemet third grader has been a member of the Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce since June 2022 and recently placed his fifth gumball machine at its office in Hemet. Executive Director Cyndi Lemke welcomed the addition and told Elijah to remember as a Chamber member he has a team behind him. “You are not in business by yourself,” she said. “Your goals are our goals because your success is our success and brings opportunity to bring the community together.”
Elijah said they check on the product and collect the coins from the gumball machines every two months. “The feedback I get from the public is how proud they are of me,” he said. “The business owners encouraged me to push forward with my business.”
Elijah’s parents, Delesia and Luis, are both U.S. Navy veterans and have a fondness for service and adding value wherever they go. Delesia serves as Assistant Director for Black Voices of the Valley, a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of black individuals and youth within the San Jacinto Valley and beyond.
“With my background in organizational management and a knack for DIY crafts sold to friends and family, the idea of instilling compassion and business sense in Elijah led to the establishment of the nonprofit Elijah Cares, with Elijah himself as CEO,” Delesia said. “Since he was four years old, we’ve been engaging in community service through arts and crafts, witnessing Elijah’s natural understanding of business and appreciation for the value of hard-earned money.”
The nonprofit organization seeks to educate, build networks and strengthen communities. The Silvas believe that educating kids involves teaching them the knowledge, skills, and values that will help them grow into responsible and successful adults. They organize events and activities to make connections to those that can collaborate on projects and initiatives and share resources and information.
“My nonprofit serves kids in underserved communities through arts and crafts for free,” Elijah said. The family feels that by investing in the well-being and success of the community and its members, it is possible to create positive, lasting change and build a more sustainable and thriving future for all. More information can be found at https://elijahcares.org.
An only child, Elijah was born after the Silvas had been married for 12 years. Delesia said, “We firmly believe in nurturing Elijah’s belief that anything is achievable. By providing him with opportunities to see his ideas materialize, we aim to strengthen his confidence and self-reliance. Over time, we’ve learned that fostering creativity and thorough planning are essential to Elijah’s success in achieving his business goals.”
He was recently signed to an eight-month contract as a Youth Commissioner with Youth Empowerment for Community Enrichment, which is part of the Sigma Beta Xi Youth and Family Services nonprofit. SBX’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty and violence through mentoring, education and community organizing. Based in Moreno Valley, the SBX office houses one of Elijah’s gumball machines. For more information, www.sigmabetaxi.com.
Berenice Zuniga is Co-CEO of SBX and was a mentee/product of the organization since 1999. She met Elijah and his parents at a Juneteenth event in 2023 and they connected over the similar work they were doing. “As I got to know Elijah, I began to see everything he was doing and his vision for himself and other youth,” she said. “By getting to know his parents, I began to know the family’s heart to serve and the commitment they had to do so.”
She said the position of Youth Commissioner is designed to create youth leaders that are responsible for advocating for community needs and building the relationships necessary to acquire those resources and collaborate with identified parties to maintain them. “They are the individuals to bridge the gaps between the community members and the local and state officials that represent them,” Zuniga said. “Our goal for him is to assist us in transforming our services into a youth led approach where youth can influence other youth.”
Elijah said he is looking forward to his new responsibilities with YECE. As part of his agreement with YECE, he is currently collaborating with Hemet Unified School District’s Wellness & Community Outreach Center to establish a food pantry in underserved areas. Miriam Ortiz, Coordinator for School, Family and Community Partnerships, said Elijah and SBX are interested in supporting the Wellness & Community Outreach Center’s Snack Bag program which provides shelf-stable items for students who need extra food support on weekends. She said Elijah’s leadership and partnership with the Center have been welcomed.
His work with YECE will also provide opportunities for him to engage in speaking engagements, with specific dates pending. Speaking about his approach to business and how he has worked to make them successful is something Elijah has done before. On April 27, he will once again be a featured speaker at the Kidpreneur Expo in San Jacinto which he helped inspire. Sponsored by Black Voices of the Valley and Boxing for Christ, the event will give young businesses a chance to be seen. Vendors from ages 5-17 are invited to showcase their innovative ventures from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event isn’t just about showcasing products, it is about celebrating the entrepreneurial journey of young pioneers, such as Elijah. Attendees can learn about the youths’ inspirations and purchase items to support their budding enterprises. There will also be prizes awarded to recognize the most innovative product, best social impact, outstanding presentation, and people’s choice for the business that receives the most votes for its excellence and appeal. For more information, please visit www.BlackVoicesoftheValley.org or call 951-921-2647.
In February, Black Voices of the Valley honored Elijah with its Youth Entrepreneurship Award. The nonprofit’s director Stephanie Bruce has known him for three years and said she is impressed with his motivational speaking talent and ability to manage multiple businesses. “He has the maturity and ability to grasp the requirements of what is needed to become a successful businessman in life,” she said. “He is truly an exceptional young man and a role model for other youth in our community.”
Elijah has other opportunities to share his experiences. “My books, ‘A Saving Kid, A Savings Journal for Kids’ as well as ‘A Busy Kid, a Planner for Kids on the Go’ are available for purchase on Amazon. I share my ideas with kids to help inspire them to start their own business and the log pages help them track their spending and saving habits,” he said. “The book talks about short- and long-term goals.”
The Silvas are grateful for all the encouragement their son has received and shared that Elijah is fortunate to have support from various organizations and individuals, including Black Voices of the Valley, Sigma Beta Xi, Youth Empowerment for Community Engagement, Lamas Housing Project, Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce, Cut Me Up Barbershop, Bolo’s Barbershop, One of One Hair Studio, Gary Jakes’ All Out Printing, Neighborhood House Association and his most loyal lemonade customer, San Jacinto City Council Member Brian Hawkins.
Elijah is not only learning more about the business world every day, but he has been able to enjoy the fruits of his labor. “The first year in business, I purchased a wooden piccolo from the Flute Center of New York,” he said. “The next year, I paid for a full year of piccolo lessons. The following year I saved for a trip to Japan, and this year I decided to start saving for my Tesla Model X.”
He has studied EDJ Brazilian Jujitsu since age four and has earned a gray and black belt. He also enjoys practicing the piccolo and participates in the Mariachi Program at Hemet Dual Language Academy playing the violin. “I love building with Legos, crafting, and science experiments,” he said.
And his academics have not suffered with all his extracurricular activities. His favorite subjects in school are math and science. “I love them equally,” Elijah said. “I’ve attended Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Saturday Science Academy II Pipeline Program since preschool. I recently delivered the Speech on Charles R. Drew for their 37th annual Jr. White Coat Ceremony. I’ve also been recommended for advancement to fifth grade at the end of my third-grade school year. I am waiting on the district to make their final decision.”
Despite all that he has going on at such an early age, Elijah is always looking ahead. “My goal and dream for my adult future is to become a nuclear physicist,” he said.
