Open Minds in the News
How a KC Entrepreneur Couple Scaled Their Child Care Business, Despite Pandemic Hurdles
AbdulRasak and Alicia Yahaya had their hands full raising three children under the age of five (they now have four kids) when they decided to launch Open Minds Child Development Center in 2014. Although Alicia has 20 years of early childhood teaching and administration experience, she was originally concerned about how they would secure funding to start the business. Despite the potential challenges, she was on board to pursue the idea with her husband.
Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Creating Change
Abdul and Alicia Yahaya took turns tending to their young son, already in his Wildcat purple; their business, Open Minds Child Development Center; and preparations for their niece’s art exhibition, which was scheduled to follow our interview. As they wove their conversation around why they give to K-State, it was clear the Yahayas work as a team. Abdul, an ’08 graduate from the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, and Alicia, a KU grad, share a commitment to community and K-State and a motivation to “seek what is in the best interest of something bigger than ourselves.”
Engineering a Dream, Business and Family. How One Family Built a Multi-Seven Figure Business in under 3 years
In this episode of SEGUCATED, Open Minds’ owners Alicia and Abdul Yahaya discuss collectivism with Open Minds’ families, engineering a different approach to childcare, while balancing a growing family, business, and marriage.
Why few Kansas City Black-owned businesses were helped with COVID Relief Federal Funds
But owners AbdulRasak and Alicia Yahaya know they were the exception among minority-owned businesses.