In February 2020, just weeks before pandemic shutdowns, Gena Mavuli opened Create Art in Community in Roslindale. That could have ended her entrepreneurial dream but instead it became a catalyst. Art would help fill the gap when people needed to come together.
Create isn’t just a studio—it’s a hub where creativity and community happen. Members access professional-grade equipment like ceramic wheels and kilns that would be financially out of reach for most individual artists. From children’s programs to adult workshops, Friday night date nights to birthday celebrations, the space transforms art-making from solitary practice to shared experience.
Two years in, Mavuli connected with Amine Benali of LEAF through Interise, a local small business program. “He’s been the best cheerleader,” she shares. He said, “Your growth is inevitable. We just need to find the right space.” This relationship went beyond financing—Benali connected her with a Northeastern University intern to analyze business metrics and develop growth strategies.
When Mavuli needed to secure a new location near Jamaica Plain, LEAF team member Matt Pires helped arrange flexible funding that provided critical breathing room for sustainable growth. This access to capital allowed her to expand.
Mavuli’s impact extends beyond her studio walls. Recognizing the challenges women entrepreneurs face, she founded the Roslindale Women’s Business Group, creating support systems for others navigating similar paths.
On February 1, 2025—exactly four years after her initial launch—Mavuli stands in her new studio, JP Clay. It shows what’s possible when financial systems recognize the value of creativity, community connection, and collective support in a shared ownership economy.
Both studios are enrolling classes for the next season, with spots filling up quickly!