Wednesday, March 13, 2024
5:00 to 8:00 pm

Kelly Metras, co-owner of Salena’s Mexican Restaurant and co-founder of BOSSY, is a pessimistic optimist and believes that it is our job as local business owners to make our communities better. She believes that community engagement should be the primary focus of businesses, as we are only as strong as the community that we do business in; if our communities are failing to thrive, it is a direct reflection of the businesses surrounding them.

Kelly is taking on her 7th and 8th businesses in 2024, and has learned that the “way” we are taught is not the “way” that people need to be led. She has learned to take the things she was taught as a Special Ed teacher in a school for behaviorally challenged teens and implement them into her workplace. The response has been exceptional.

Kelly’s belief in a community centered approach is reflected in all of her life choices. She is cautious and aware of how her money is recycled back into the local economy, and supports grassroots organizations in any way that she can, often through advertising dollars and partnerships. The focus of many of these partnerships  are grassroots organizations that have the goal to lift those in the community that are disproportionally affected by deep-seeded racist policies and practices.