Nominate an Outstanding Friend of Women's Initiative
As we celebrate 20 years of excellence, Women’s Initiative is proud to be honoring 20 women.  At the closing ceremonies of our Women’s Initiative Business Conference in October, we will be presenting 10 graduates and 10 supporters with Excellence Awards.  Throughout the month of May we will be collecting nomination forms for 20 categories.  Nominate outstanding friends and graduates!  Nominations will be accepted through Saturday, May 31.  Self nominations are welcomed. You can submit multiple nominations, but only one nomination per person per category will be considered. You can easily recommend someone online using our nomination form.

Marin County Launch Party

Mark Quinn, Marti Rule, Anita Franzi, Julie Castro Abrams and Paula LeRoy celebrate the Marin County center launch.

Marin County Launch Party
We launched our new Women’s Business Center in Marin County.  This site is possible through the cooperative partnership with the United States Small Business Administration. Their encouragement, guidance, and financial backing have been indispensable to our expansion in Marin County. Paula LeRoy, board member, and Julie Castro Abrams, CEO, shared with the crowd of 75 people their vision for Women's Initiative in Marin County.  A recent graduate and Marin-based artist, Soña Holman, spoke about her experience in the Simple Steps class.  Soña just launched her fine art business through an open studio event last weekend. Mark Quinn, U.S. Small Business Administration and Anita Franzi, Office of Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, gave Women's Initiative warm congratulations on our launch. Women's Initiative is committed to building a Women’s Initiative network in Marin County by engaging the community and supporting our clients and their businesses The event was catered by three Women's Initiative graduates: Isabella’s Catering, Kanela Sweets, and Tamales Sinaloa. Also we are planning to move into a full training space in Novato by June – stay tuned for our newest address!

Financial Freedom: SuccessLink Connect Event

Mark Quinn, Marti Rule, Anita Franzi, Julie Castro Abrams and Paula LeRoy celebrate the Marin County center launch.

Last Wednesday Women's Initiative hosted a powerful Connect event that helped women explore their relationship with money.  The 150 attendees heard from three dynamo speakers. Cheryl Broussard, a leading expert on business and personal finance who has written three bestsellers.  Erica Sandberg, author of Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families, who has lent her expertise to Forbes, Businessweek-TV, Redbook, and MarketWatch, and provided on-air commentary for KRON-TV offered financial advice to our clients.  And the third speaker Sharon Kedar came with extensive experience in the financial services industry as a financial analyst, portfolio manager. She is the co-author with Manisha Thakor of On My Own Two Feed: A Modern Girl's Guide to Personal Finance. Her work as a financial literacy advocate has been featured in Business Week, U.S. News & World Report, and NBC Nightly News. Women's Initiative was honored to have these guests share tips and wisdom with our clients.

Rosalva Diaz prepping oranges for the juicer.

Dynamo Among Us
Women's Initiative graduate Rosalva Diaz, owner of La Verbena Juice Bar, won the award for “Neighborhood Dynamo” at the Oakland Indie Awards last week. The Indies had great things to say about Rosalva in the program booklet: “La Verbena is a juice bar and café in the new Fruitvale Public Market. Owner Rosalva Diaz has overcome two big challenges in life and is using her new shop to help her neighbors tackle these challenges as well. A survivor of diabetes, and aware of the prevalence of childhood obesity, she seeks to educate the community about healthier eating choices and provides the neighborhood with fresh-made, healthy juices and shakes. Also a survivor of domestic violence, Diaz is implementing an employment training program for women seeking to escape domestic violence by building skills, confidence and community.” Congratulations, Rosalva!

The Tao of Mao
Women's Initiative graduate Ingrid Heller, a.k.a. ABCrane, has just announced the publication of her exciting new book, The Tao of Mao: How Capitalist America and Communist China Paved the Way to Each Other. Entertaining and informative, this political satire combines witty essays, hilarious comics, and profound poetry to poignantly point out the deeply ironic parallel between the European/American Industrial Revolution and China's Great Leap Forward. Her book can be found on the shelves of four bookstores in San Francisco and Berkeley, including City Lights and Comic Relief, and online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and through other e-book distributors.  To find out more, visit www.taoofmao.com.

Elizabeth Russell
We are so lucky to have Elizabeth at Women's Initiative as our Volunteer Coordinator, when she herself is a volunteer.  Elizabeth came from Scotland to the U.S. 40 years ago. For the last 26 years she worked for Delta Dental in San Francisco performing different roles and, for her final seven years, was their Chief Financial Officer. In 2002 she was contacted by a friend who was on the Women’s Initiative’s Board of Directors and was asked to have Delta sponsor a table at the gala. Elizabeth agreed and invited some businesswomen to attend. “That night I was so moved by the stories of the graduates who were being honored and also the mission of the organization that I decided that, when I retired, I would volunteer for Women’s Initiative,” said Elizabeth. She loves the Women’s Initiative philosophy and results and she truly believes in the amazing difference that Women’s Initiative makes in women’s lives and the lives of their families.  “As a woman in business, especially in the insurance and finance field, I faced many difficulties. I am also an immigrant so I understand the challenges that this brings. I was very fortunate to be successful in life and wanted to help other women who were willing to work hard and just needed to be given the right training and opportunity to succeed.” said Elizabeth. In addition to her role as Volunteer Coordinator, she attends events and supports Women's Initiative graduate businesses by promoting Women’s Initiative with friends and contacts.

Deepa at the Concord Center Ribbon-cutting Ceremony in front of one of her works of art.

Deepa Patel
Owner of Arosa Art
Deepa Patel has propelled herself into a successful career as an artist. Anyone viewing Deepa’s work will definitely be touched with emotion. Her mixed media art is the expression of her life: her struggles, abusive memories, heartbreaks and breakthroughs.  “I will always work on my art and I have promised myself never to give up my passion.” The Uganda-born Patel recalled that, at a young age, she had dreams and aspirations of being an entrepreneur. “I always saw myself being a leader, running a business, or owning a company.”

“Arosa,” one of Patel’s signature pieces, reflects the beginning of change in her life and her ability to grow as an artist. “Arosa” is the torso of a woman, displaying a dagger through the heart, embedded metal pieces in the chest area, and a spiked dog collar around the neck. Yet, in light of this displayed torment, the added attachment of beautifully and boldly colored butterfly wings appear to express a softness and peacefulness.

“As an artist, I work with paper and fabrics to create three-dimensional work that reflects the human spirit. Using molds of real people allows me to capture genuine character and personality that we can all relate to.” While constructing a new design, Deepa admits that the results can be unexpected. The seasoned artist starts each piece with a vision in mind but she notes that fabric and paper have minds of their own. As she shapes and experiments with the objects, they transform and develop into their final expression. Such as the arrangements presented in her pieces “Life” and “Koko,” Deepa notes that the “textures and colors lead to beautiful images that celebrate love, hate, passion, apathy, sadness, happiness, dreams, power, and life.”

Before launching her business, Deepa’s life headed into a tailspin when the company she worked for downsized. She lost her condo and her car because she could not make payments.  She then stepped back to think about what she truly wanted to do with her life. During that period Deepa found the support of Women’s Initiative where she completed the Simple Steps program.  Women's Initiative continues to support Deepa and her art business. “Although I am a graduate of Women’s Initiative, they still support me by displaying my art in their offices.” Deepa says. She appreciates this effort and feels the assistance they offer is very helpful to her business. Her words of wisdom: “Set your intention and don’t look back. There will be obstacles and challenges.”  Deepa has faced her challenges head on and turned them into beautiful pieces of art.

To experience and view her work, please visit www.Arosaart.com and www.Deepa.com

    -Mieasha Harris, Women's Initiative graduate and owner of WIP Magazine