Women's Initiative e-Newsletter

March 2, 2007


This week a report was released that severe poverty in the U.S. is on the rise; it is the highest it has been in 32 years. In California there are 1.9 million people who are severely poor. What is more shocking is that this isn’t a rare problem – one in three U.S. residents will experience a year of extreme poverty during their lifetime (Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison). At Women's Initiative over 68% of the women we work with are in extreme poverty at the start of the program. This is consistent with the findings that two out of three people in severe poverty are female, with female-headed families with children making up a huge share of the severely poor. At the same time less people are participating in welfare programs like TANF and food stamps. That’s a lot of food for thought about why poverty still exists in the U.S. and the focus of strategies to end it. . Women’s Initiative is committed to ending poverty and the systems that create it. This includes creating a business environment that is friendly to women and minority microentrepreneurs. As we head into Women’s History Month in March and the welfare of women is on everyone’s mind, let’s recognize the power of creating an economy that works for everyone.
HOT TOPICS


Julie Castro Abrams CEO with Mike Fister, CEO of Cadence, and Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose after the announcement that Women's Initiative will be named the beneficiary of the $1M Stars& Strikes event on May 12.


Julie Castro Abrams attends Senator Dianne Feinstein’s swearing-in ceremony in January.

Graduates made great connections at Build Your Brand: Distinguish Your Business from all the Rest
Eighty people came together on Feb. 21 to engage in ways to enhance their brand. Board member Paula LeRoy kicked off the event and introduced us to the fabulous keynote speech from Paula Welsh, Welsh Marketing Group, who advised that in order to get things done we should, “Telegram, telephone, tell-a-woman.” At Women's Initiative we certainly know that is true for women launching new ventures! Connectors from IBM, Banana Republic marketing team and small business owners participated in “speed mentoring” with our graduates. At five different seminars clients discussed how to create a signature brand, when and how to go after media opportunities and using word of mouth to grow their products or services into something irresistible. Later at the reception graduate Elizabeth Wood kept us fed with her delectable mini quiches as business women nurtured their networking skills.

Mark Your Calendar: Gala 2007
Tue, Mar 6 is the last day to secure your company's name in the invitation!

Tue, May 22 at Westin St. Francis Hotel (San Francisco). Marketplace opens at 5:30 pm. Come early to purchase exquisite jewelry, clothing, and more at the Marketplace or sit for a relaxing massage. Shopping, appetizers, three-course dinner, entertainment, and cocktails. CLICK HERE to buy your table now.

Join San Francisco’s most powerful women in business at our 5th Annual gala - one of the most inspirational events you will attend all year. Your participation will make the dream of business ownership a reality for hundreds of high-potential, low-income women. Carrie Schwab Pomerantz, will receive this year’s Founders’ Award. As the president of Charles Schwab Foundation, Carrie is a leading advocate for investment education. She speaks and writes extensively about personal finance for women and families, and is a driving force in the movement to increase financial literacy in America. For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact Madhuri at (510) 287-3107 or mpottathil@womensinitiative.org.

 

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EVENTS

Think globally, read locally!
On the eve of International Women’s Day, two East Bay authors look at women’s microenterprise abroad and at home. Women’s Initiative proudly hosts this evening book signing & networking opportunity on Wed, March 7, 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Swarm Studios (560 Second Street, near Jack London Square - Oakland)

Serena Bartlett, author of Grassroutes Travel Guide: Oakland: The Soul of the City Next Door
Serena Bartlett graduated from the Women’s Initiative program in 2006. Serena is a freelance writer, who has lived and traveled in over 20 countries. Cities that pulse with creativity and motion are her passion. Serena’s Grassroots travel guide series, of which Oakland: the Soul of the City Next Door is the first, focuses on locally-known, hidden gems and eschews chain stores and restaurants.

Dana Whitaker, author of Opening Eyes: Transforming Lives $40 at a Time
Dana Whitaker sits on the Women’s Initiative Advisory Council of the East Bay and her book features Women’s Initiative graduate, Asara Tsehai. An experienced international traveler, Dana spent three years in urban centers and rural outposts all over the world, meeting, interviewing and photographing microentrepreneurs for this book. Opening Eyes provides intimate portraits of courageous individuals building lives of dignity, prosperity, and hope around the world.

Please RSVP to Madhuri Pottathil at mpottathil@womensinitiative.org or (510) 287-3107.

First class to graduate from Women's Initiative program in Marin
Join guest speaker Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey for our first graduation in Marin on Fri, Mar. 16, VIP reception 5-6 pm, graduation ceremony 6-8 pm. We are holding the festivities at Pickleweed Community Center (50 Canal St., San Rafael). Women's Initiative will also announce our Founders’ Award recipient that we honor at this year’s gala. There will be refreshments and 100 people in attendance. For more information contact Antonia Hollander at (415) 641-3465 or ahollander@womensinitiative.org.

Fruitvale office grand opening
Join Women's Initiative as we celebrate the grand opening of our new location in Oakland’s Fruitvale district on Fri, Apr. 6, 11:30 am ribbon cutting. We are now located at 3700 East 12th Street just three blocks from the Fruitvale Village and BART station. Come down and enjoy a walking tour of Women’s Initiative businesses in the area. For women interesting in joining our program, we will have My Business Action Plan classes going on throughout the day to help access where you are with your business idea. Call (415) 641-3460 for more details.

 
IN THE NEWS

Women's Initiative plans to expand in Silicon Valley received news coverage:

February 23, 2007
Sarah Duxbury, “Oakland nonprofit bowls $1M South Bay expansion”
San Francisco Business Times

February 23, 2007
Lily of the Valley, “Bowling dollars to fund incubator”
Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Times

February 15, 2007
Sal Pizarro, “Pizarro: Engineering center, ‘just the beginning’”
San Jose Mercury News

January 2007
Mara Math, “Micro Loans Make a Powerful Impact”
Bay Area Business Woman

Have you recently been featured in the media? Let us know about it by emailing Justina at jcross@womensinitiative.org.
 
MOVERS & SHAKERS

Shoshana Frumkin, owner of On the Spot Massage just opened a third drop-in relaxation station at the Emeryville Public Market (5959 Shellmound St.). Stop by for a 10-20 minute chair massage anytime between 11 am – 7 pm.

 
 
DID YOU KNOW
As of 2006, the 2.1 million businesses majority owned (51% or more) by women of color employ more than one million workers and generate more than $161 billion in sales (Center for Women’s Business Research)