# Veteran finds healing through pop-up bakery in Santa Cruz

## FOR ...AND HIS BUSINESS SPONTANEOUS CONFECTIONS IS DEFINITELY BLOOMING WITH THE HELP OF THIS VETERAN PROGRAM ## <i> REALLY BELIEVE YOU TASTE WITH YOUR EYES FIRST </i> <i>NAT POP- OF HIM IN THE KITCHEN </i> W JUSTIN LENOROVITZ IS DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST ...BAKING IN THE KITCHEN <i>NAT POP </i> BEHIND THE DELICIOUS PASTRIES IS A MAN WITH A STORY...FROM GROWING UP IN FOSTER CARE TO GETTING DEPLOYED AT JUST 19 -YEARS-OLD <i> BEING A YOUNG BLACK KID WAS IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED FROM MY FOSTER HOME AND DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS SO I JOINED THE ARMY RIGHT AWAY I FIGURED THAT WAS MY BEST CHOICE</i> HE SPENT HIS 20TH BIRTHDAY IN AFGHANISTAN ...WHERE HE GOT INJURED <i> I WAS FORTUNATE TO RECOVER AND I STILL DO HAVE LONG LASTING PERMANENT ISSUES AND PTSD DOES TAKE A WHOLE </i> SINCE COMING HOME JUSTIN'S OUTLET HAS BEEN BAKING <i> I WAS LIKE MAN, I REALLY ENJOY THIS AND WITH THE HELP OF MY NEIGHBORS I FELT THAT I COULD ACTUALLY START A SMALL BUSINESS AND SEE HOW IT GOES</i> THROUGH THE VET APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM SEMPER FI AND AMERICA'S FUND... JUSTIN WAS ABLE TO GET THE ASSISTANCE HE NEEDED TO NOT ONLY GET PROPER BUSINESS TRAINING BUT THE PROGRAM ALSO HELPED FUND HIM CULINARY TRAINING IN FRANCE <i> THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM MEETS THOSE VETERANS JUST LIKE THE CASE MANAGER'S DO RIGHT THEIR AT WHATEVER THEIR BUSINESS LEVEL IS, EDUCATION IS, TALENT IS WE TRY AND PROVIDE THEM EDUCATION, RESOURCES TRAINING AND WE ALSO GRANT THEM MONEY TO HELP THEM A LONG THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY</i> THE  PROGRAM ALLOWED HIM AND HIW WIFE TO OPEN UP "SPONTANEOUS CONFECTIONS" IN 2023... HE USES BAKING AS FORM OF HEALING <i> MY BUSINESS TO ME MORE IS THAN JUST BAKING IT'S DEFINITELY HOW I EXPRESS MYSELF IT'S BEEN SOMETHING IN MY LIFE THAT HAS GIVEN ME MORE CONTROL OF HOW I FEEL ESPECIALLY WITHIN MYSELF</i>

SPONTANEOUS CONFECTIONS USES UNIQUE INGREDIENTS IN THEIR PASTRIES AND THEY CAN BE FOUND EVERY OTHER

## Veterans and Entrepreneurs

A local veteran has opened a pop-up bakery in Santa Cruz, using baking as a form of healing from PTSD.

"I really believe you taste with your eyes first," Justin Lenorovitz said.

Justin Lenorovitz is doing what he does best—baking in the kitchen.

"Being a young black kid, I was immediately disconnected from my foster home and didn't have many options, so I joined the army right away. I figured that was my best choice," Lenorovitz said.

He spent his 20th birthday in Afghanistan, where he got injured.

"I was fortunate to recover, and I still do have long-lasting permanent issues, and PTSD does take a whole," Lenorovitz said. "I was like, man, I really enjoy this, and with the help of my neighbor's, I felt that I could actually start a small business and see how it goes."

Through the Vet Apprenticeship Program Semper Fi and America's Fund, Justin was able to get the assistance he needed to get proper business training, but the program also helped fund his culinary training in France.

"The apprenticeship program meets those veterans just like the case manager's do right their at whatever their business level is, education is, talent is we try and provide them education, resources training and we also grant them money to help them a long their entrepreneurial journey," said Casey Fisher, senior director of Semper Fi & America's Fund.

The program allowed him and his wife, Stephanie, to open up their small business, Spontaneous Confections, which launched in 2023.

"I can feel a lot of my pain being turned into fertilizer," Lenorovitz said. "My business to me is more than just baking; it's definitely how I express myself. It's been something in my life that has given me more control of how I feel, especially within myself."

Spontaneous Confections uses unique ingredients in their pastries, and they can be found every other weekend at the Live Oak Farmers Market in Santa Cruz.

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