Women's Initiative e-Newsletter

March 7, 2006
Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women believes that empowering women is the driving force for development. Here at Women’s Initiative we know that is true! In their opening session February 28th, UN Deputy-Secretary General Louise Fréchette said the international community finally comprehends that empowering women and girls is the most effective tool for a country's development. At Women’s Initiative our results speak to what Fréchette reported at to the commission; by giving women equal education and work opportunities and access to a society's decision-making processes, a country can boost its economic productivity, reduce mortality rates and improve the general population's health. We know Women’s Initiative and our graduates are making a positive impact in Bay Area communities. From July 1 to December 31, our clients reported creating 90 new jobs for themselves and others and reported starting 30 brand new businesses.
HOT TOPICS

Sarah Helps Us Sparkle
go4segt.com | 1.877.go4.segt
Sarah Jones A.K.A Sparkle, owner of Sparkle Entertainment, has been awarded for her animated Women’s Initiative logo design. Women’s Initiative will use the new logo in parts of their web site and on DVDs and other visual material. Sparkle has always been interested in media and entertainment. She started her career singing in nightclubs and playing drums in school. Her artist talents carried over into painting landscapes and other peaceful scenes, but her true passion was for the business of entertainment. After her experiences being a performer, she knew that she could do a better job of lining up venues and promoters for musicians and singers than the people she had worked with. Her first experience as a manager has been one of the most rewarding. She met a talented young performer named Andre Williams and has helped him line up gigs everything from opening for MC Hammer to including songs on The Whispers new CD (to be released soon). To continue in her creative work, Sparkle entered school for graphic design and came to a My Business Action Plan session at Women’s Initiative at the encouragement of a counselor and mentor. Before coming to Women’s Initiative she had a lot of economic struggles and was battling depression. The number one thing Sarah got from Women’s Initiative was the ability to deal with personal stress while starting her business. Sarah said, “Women’s Initiative brought out the sparkle in me.” And we want to give her a special thank you for helping to bring our logo to life!

Graduates Create a Lively & Lovely Street Sale on Valentine’s Day
Graduates Anasa Tatum, Herbal Grace; Andrea Doffing, Mirabai Truffles; and Bernadette Nicholson, The Write Touch, gathered at Quela Mikell’s store Royal Jewelz to create a easy stop for last minute gift-buyers to find beautiful handcrafted gifts, chocolates, soaps and lotions. To top off any purchase of the perfect combination Valentine's Day present was beautifully illustrated card by Bernadette and her company The Write Touch. The four graduates turned 17th Street into a festive atmosphere with balloons and friendly greetings to all strolling down the street.

Quela Andrea
Bernadette Anasa
 TAKE ACTION
For the third year in a row President Bush Proposes Elimination of microloan programs!
The Bush Administration 2007 budget proposal to Congress recommends the elimination of SBA micro-loan and PRIME programs. In addition, the proposal includes recommendations to cut $500,000 from Women's Business Centers and $47 million from the CDFI Fund. Bush’s proposal is only a recommendation; the ultimate decision to fund these programs lay in the hands of Congress members. Help keep Women’s Initiative and other programs funded by telling Congress about the impact that programs like Women’s Initiative have had on your business development. Send a short message supporting federal funding for microenterprise! To send a message by visiting www.microenterpriseworks.org and enter your zip code in the "Contact Congress" box. Choose one of three pre-written letters, which will be sent automatically to your Senators and Representatives.
 
PICK OF THE MONTH

Shannon’s Pick: Granddaddy’s TeaCakes

Granddaddy’s TeaCakes is owned and operated by Women’s Initiative graduate, Paulette Forte. I ordered her teacakes recently to share as holiday gifts and what a hit! I spent days trying to find the perfect gift for my new mother in-law and I hit the jackpot. My 78 year old mother in-law said the taste of these teacakes brought back fond memories of her upbringing in Texas. She says teacakes originated in Southern states and “Granddaddys TeaCakes” are the only ones she’s had in California that taste authentic. My husband’s favorite are the chocolate dipped and it was a challenge keeping his fingers out of the bags so we would have enough to give as gifts. I shared them at a Christmas party and initially most people dismissed them as if they were your ordinary holiday cookie. However, after tasting the sweet spices that make this treat so unique, everyone wanted the recipe. Paulette (owner) says the secret recipe has been in her family over 200 years and she’s added some variety by offering the original, orange, and lemon flavors. You can also have them dipped in milk or dark chocolate. “Granddaddy’s TeaCakes” are delightful and with the reasonable prices you can treat yourself or share them as a gift.

If you are interested in buying Granddaddy’s TeaCakes email paulettemyoh@yahoo.com or call (510) 652-2123 and Paulette will deliver them to you.

Shannon Penn is a Small Business Trainer at Women's Initiative
EVENTS

On March 10, LifeMoxie!'s Fourth Annual Women's Economic Power Day will be held at the Regency Center in San Francisco. As a Women's Initiative client or alumnae you will receive a $40 discount from the $150 Women's Economic Power Day ticket price. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Come celebrate THE EAST BAY “BIRTH” DAY on March 11, 2006 from 9am – 8:15pm. Waddle and Swaddle, owned by graduate Linda Jones-Mixon, and the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center are co-sponsoring a day of theater, good food and information and resources regarding pregnancy and birth as a fundraiser for BirthWays and Sistahs of the Good Birth. For more information contact (510) 540-7210 or linda@waddleandswaddle.com.

Oakland Women Business Leaders Conference
March 24th 8:30am – 12noon at Oakland City Hall (Frank Ogawa Plaza). Councilmember Jane Brunner and City Administrator Deborah Edgerly invite you to attend the City of Oakland’s first Women Business Leaders Conference. Network and do business together and participate in helping the City serve women-owned businesses. To register call (510) 238-7001. We’d love for Women’s Initiative graduates to be represented and have a voice at City Hall.
 
MOVERS & SHAKERS

Graduates Hope Meng and Melissa Alvarado who co-own Stitch Lounge with a third business partner and friend have their first published book due out in August! Sew Subversive is a do-it-yourself guide for aspiring fashionistas for easy alterations and refashioning projects, including T-shirt reconstruction. Keep your eyes out for it in bookstores or purchase it on Amazon.com. For more info visit www.stitchlounge.com. Congratulations Hope and Melissa! Read about them in The Chronicle, CLICK HERE.

Graduate April Berger presents her collection of work “THE MYSTICAL HEBREW ALPHABET: Layers of Meaning, Fabric of Time” at the Elizabeth S. and Alvin I. Fine Museum, Temple Emanu-El from March 17 to June 11, 2006. April has traveled and studied art in Europe and Africa, and settled in the Mission District of San Francisco over twenty-five years ago, where she has maintained her art studio since, continuing to develop her unique style and voice in art which reflects the colorful, multi-cultural environment of her neighborhood. In the Kabbalah, a mystical sect of Judaism, April found yet another source of inspiration to study the power of the symbolic and spiritual. She began her studies of the Kabbalah three years ago and, intrigued by the mystical power and abstract shapes of the Hebrew letters. In the past year and a half, she has learned the Hebrew alphabet, studied scholarly works on the symbolism of the letters, and finally transformed that intellectual discourse into artistic expression. For more information contact april@aprilberger.com.

Graduate and loan fund recipient Caroline Wea, owner of WEA Frock, has just launched her business web site. Visit her clothing line for kids at www.weafrock.com.

Graduates In the News
Graduate Eva Saavedra was featured in The Chronicle in a story about eateries and restaurants along International Boulevard in Oakland. To read the article, CLICK HERE.

GET INVOLVED

Calling all Connectors!
We are looking for corporate and entrepreneurial leaders to share their skills and support new entrepreneurs as a Business Connector. Becoming a Business Connector is an easy way to deepen your involvement with Women’s Initiative and work with clients face to face. Women’s Initiative especially welcomes Connectors that reflect the ethnic and social diversity of the communities we serve. The ideal Business Connector will have experience as a business owner, founder or senior manager. We have a Connect Event for graduates on April 7th "Owning Your Image & Your Business." We need marketing experts, speech writers, image consultants, and more to make this event successful. It would be a 1-3 hour commitment. Contact Justina Cross, Marketing and Communications Associate, at (510) 287-3109 or jcross@womensinitiative.org if you want to be a connector for this event. Thanks.