This research poster examines the intersection of gender, community-based programs, and economic development in Puerto Rico through a qualitative case study of women-led initiatives. Using Appreciative Inquiry, focus group discussions, and community asset mapping, the study highlights how organizations such as LEAP Social Enterprise and Taller Communidad La Goyco address systemic barriers, including wage inequality, domestic violence, and the underrepresentation of women in leadership. Grounded in the Capability Approach and the Community Capital Framework, findings demonstrate how gender-sensitive social enterprises expand women’s agency while strengthening community resilience through education, cultural preservation, and local resource mobilization.
