Continuing with the Crestwood Library’s Centennial celebrations, we will be hosting a youth entrepreneur holiday bazaar on November 29th from 10am to 2pm! Come support our local youth while taking home a handmade craft or treat!
In anticipation of this event, Crestwood staff member Hanora Woodruff reached out to the fair’s organizer, Tamra Malaga, for an interview, shedding some light on the fair’s behind the scenes. The correspondence went as follows:
[Note: This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.]
Hanora: How did the various craft fairs you organize come about? Where did the idea come from, and how did you bring it to life?
Tamra: I am a homeschool mother of two boys, ages 11 and 15, and I have been homeschooling since 2011. I have been creating and organizing homeschool events and programs for many years and continue to do so throughout the year. The Homeschool Entrepreneur Holiday Fair grew out of a homeschool program I launched in 2016 called The Kids’ Book Club at the Scarsdale Library for my sons and the homeschool community. One of the books we read was If You Made a Million by David M. Schwartz. After reading the book, I organized a craft fair for the class as a hands-on project. It was a big success, and each year the community looked forward to it. From there, I continued organizing this event for various homeschool groups/communities across New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.
In 2021, my sons and I began attending NYS LEAH (Loving Education at Home) homeschool events that took place at the Crestwood Library in Yonkers. After meeting Z and connecting with her, the entrepreneur fair has found a home at Crestwood Library and has grown tremendously thanks to her continued support.
For the past four years, the Crestwood Library has been the beloved home of our annual Homeschool Entrepreneur Holiday Fair. We are so grateful to Z, the entire library staff, and Crestwood Library for their incredible support and for making this event possible. It has become something families look forward to each year, and I even have waitlists. This year, in celebration of the Crestwood Library’s 100th anniversary, I’m honored to help mark this milestone by renaming the event the Crestwood Library Centennial Holiday Bazaar in celebration of this special occasion.
[Note: This year, the Holiday Bazaar has expanded to include children in both public, private, and homeschool programs.]
H: What does entrepreneurship mean to you? What do you want the kids to take away from this experience? Any particular skills, lessons, etc?
T: To me, entrepreneurship is about empowering kids to use their imagination, follow their passions, and think outside the box while learning real-life skills. It’s about being creative, solving problems, and having the confidence to try something new. I want students to feel excited and confident about creating something of their own, learning that entrepreneurship isn’t just about making money, but about bringing ideas to life. Through this experience, they explore creativity, finances, and the process of turning their ideas into something amazing. They also get to design their own logos, brands, and decorate their booths to reflect who they are. Each booth is so unique and every year I’m amazed by the creativity, excitement, and attention to detail the kids put into their displays. I’m incredibly proud of each and every one of them and always look forward to seeing what they come up with year after year.
H: How do the kids come up with their business ideas for the fairs? Do they have any guidelines to help them get started? When do they start preparing for them?
T: I send each participant an email that explains the basics of starting a small business and setting up a booth, since this is an educational event. Students have about one to two months to get ready, which gives them plenty of time to plan and prepare. It is up to the students, with support from their parents, to decide what they want to sell, pick a business name, and design a logo to display on their table. They also decorate their tables, keep track of sales with a receipt log or sales sheet, and set their prices thoughtfully.
That partnership between students and parents is what makes homeschooling so amazing. I always encourage families to promote their project early and often. They can use our event poster to share with friends, family, other homeschoolers, their local library, church, and their social media. The earlier and more widely they spread the word, the more people we usually have attending.
H: What does this fair mean to you, the children in NYS LEAH, homeschoolers, and to the Crestwood community? What do you want everyone to accomplish by participating in or visiting the Holiday Bazaar?
T: This fair is really special because it gives [young people] a chance to get creative, follow their passions, and learn real-life skills in a fun, hands-on way. For the Crestwood community, it’s a chance to come together, celebrate young entrepreneurs, and support local families. I love that everyone who participates or visits the Holiday Bazaar gets to see all the hard work and creativity that goes on behind the scenes. It’s inspiring to watch!
We hope you’ll come support these children, NYS LEAH, homeschoolers, and the Crestwood Library on Saturday, November 29th from 10am to 2pm. Bring cash and holiday cheer and support young people in your local community. Proceeds collected from the Holiday Bazaar are donated to the Crestwood Library.
Hanora Woodruff is a Part-Time Clerk and patron of Yonkers Crestwood Library since childhood. She recently graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Biology and Creative Writing. Her favorite reads at the moment are Sylvia Plath’s poems.
Alison Robles, a Yonkers native, received an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo. She works at the Crestwood Library and is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction, and fantasy.