Gala 08 filled with excellence and joy

Honoree Linda Hothem receiving an original art piece from graduate Deepa Patel. Senator Don Perata in the background. Photo credit: Nancy Rothstein

On Wednesday, May 14, Women’s Initiative held its sixth annual gala at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. This year’s event surpassed our fundraising goal and raised more than $600,000 for Women’s Initiative in support of our entrepreneurship training for low-income women. Over 800 people attended (the gala sold out before print invitations were mailed!) and thirty-five Women’s Initiative graduates sold their wares and promoted their services at the Marketplace, including a new Art Gallery space. Marketplace booths had everything from bath and body products to handcrafted jewelry and accessories, and the Art Gallery featured two- and three-dimensional art, including pyrographic art burnt into wood.

Erica Varize accepts the Enterprising Woman of the Year award from Emily Shanks, Bank of America. Photo credit: Nancy Rothstein

This year’s gala honored Women’s Initiative graduates Erica Varize, owner of EVarize Fashion Café, and Elizabeth Woods, owner of EW Foods Magnificent Quiche, with Enterprising Women of the Year awards, presented by Emily Shanks of Bank of America. Don Perata, California State Senator Pro-Tem, presented this year’s Founders’ Award to Linda Hothem, CEO of Pacific American Services. This award is given to an outstanding Bay Area leader who embodies the values of Women’s Initiative and works to better the lives of women. Inspirational videos featuring all three honorees were premiered during the reception.

Enterprising Woman of the Year Elizabeth Woods quotes Dr. Martin Luther King as she accepts her award. Photo credit: Nancy Rothstein

The event was emceed by Women’s Initiative graduate Nanette Barrie, owner of Sankofa Genius Institute, and also featured speakers Michele Iversen, Women’s Initiative Board Chair, Julie Castro Abrams, Women’s Initiative CEO, Terry Lachenbruch of Wells Fargo, and Mary Huss of the San Francisco Business Times. Alayo Dance Company kicked off the event by leading attendees into the main dining room with a festive conga-style line, followed by an energetic on-stage performance. The evening ended with an art exchange—Linda Hothem presented a Panamanian quilt to Women’s Initiative, and Women’s Initiative graduate Deepa Patel, owner of Arosa Art, presented one of her unique three-dimensional art pieces to Linda Hothem.  To view more photos from the event CLICK HERE.

San Francisco’s Small Business Assistance Center Opens
Small businesses make up over 85% of all business in San Francisco and the City is stepping up to assist these owners. The new Center is designed to help owners navigate the tedious steps needed to open or expand a business in San Francisco.  The center, lead by Director Brajah Norris, is committed to meeting the needs of small businesses with fewer than 100 employees in the City. Located on the first floor of City Hall in Room 110 of the Treasurer/Tax Collector’s Office, the center will be staffed by case managers responsible for assessing business needs and providing targeted one-on-one assistance. We hope many Women's Initiative clients will be able to use the Center's offering to speed up the licensing and permitting process. For additional information contact (415) 554-6134.

HP Announces a Microenterprise Development Grant for Women's Initiative
At the end of May, HP announced Women's Initiative among the seven recipients of the HP Technology for Entrepreneurship Education Leadership Grants, which are worth approximately $100,000 each in technology equipment and cash.  The grant program provides technology and training for entrepreneurs to build and grow their businesses, with a particular focus on small businesses, youth and underserved communities.  Women's Initiative was able to get student laptops to use as part of the business management training for women entrepreneurs with the $75,000 grant.

 “Supporting nonprofit organizations with proven success in entrepreneurship education and training is an important step in the growth and success of micro-businesses,” said Yvonne Hunt, vice president, Global Social Investment, HP. “We are committed to empowering individuals and communities worldwide by equipping them with investments of HP resources and technology.”

Supporting the growth of microenterprise development agencies is critical to the success of micro-businesses.  Women’s Initiative was selected as a recipient along with agencies all over the country including: BiGAustin, Community Business Partnership, Detroit Entrepreneurship Institute, Inc., Micro Business Development, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, and The Edge Connection.  Women's Initiative is thrilled to expand the reach of our technology curriculum through HP’s generous gift.  CLICK HERE for more information about the HP Technology for Entrepreneurship Education Leadership Grant program is available.

Bernadette Nicholson holding up one of her custom greeting card designs

One of our Own Honored
Women's Initiative graduate Bernadette Nicholson was honored as the California Business of the Year for District 9. Nicholson’s business The Write Touch was selected from among 3.7 million small companies in California to be honored by local legislator Senator Don Perata, President Pro Tempore. The award was announced on May 28 at the annual California Small Business Day in Sacramento, and The Write Touch joined other Small Businesses of the Year recipients identified in each of 80 state legislative districts.  Congratulations Bernadette on your public accolades!

MarRem, 2005 graduate and licensed marriage family therapist

MarRem Remington, LMFT

MarRem Remington, Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT), believes children are active, curious, learn through play, and need to be taught skills in a way that works for them. MarRem understands that “children want to make their parents and teachers happy and proud,” and uses that sentiment to help children be successful. Her services include family and play therapy, parent and school consultations, and home and school visits.  She graduated from the Simple Steps course at Women's Initiative in 2005.  MarRem was already in the therapist field when she started the program at Women's Initiative. “I am old enough to be able to learn from my experience and young enough to still have dreams,” said MarRem. “There are people out there who really want to support women with business ideas to help us grow our dreams. How rich it was to get others’ input and to share information. More minds are better than one.”

Having more than 20 years experience in the education field has taught MarRem the unique ways children learn, and the importance of a safe environment while learning.  She knows how hard it can be for parents to watch their child struggle with learning and emotions.  MarRem believes this has been amplified by increased demands and choices in today’s stimulating and fast-paced society.  MarRem’s accolades include an Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship from Harvard Medical School that allowed her to work with Children’s Hospital Boston and Napa County Health and Human Services, a Masters in Counseling from John F. Kennedy University, and a Masters in Education from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.

MarRem works with parents, but also helps the entire family understand how to meet each other’s needs. “It can be hard to figure out what would be helpful when you want to meet your child’s needs, while also taking care of your own needs as a person,” shares MarRem. That is why she is committed to co-creating strategies that benefit every member of the family and helps each person feel helpful and healthy.

MarRem celebrated the opening of her new Oakland office located at 154 Santa Clara Avenue with an open house this past March. This July, MarRem will author an online advice column. MarRem offers, “I am really doing my life’s work. I’m going to continue creating my dream by working on it daily. I can’t get there unless I’m doing work that makes my heart happy.”

Before joining the business management program at Women's Initiative, MarRem was not clear what it would take to launch a business.  She admits that when she first thought about having a private practice, she had no idea how to run it, which is why the ongoing support through SuccessLink at Women's Initiative has been so helpful. “I would not be where I am today without SuccessLink. The action groups, coaching and Connect events continue to be so important to me,” confides MarRem.  With her doors officially open this year and her 20 years of experience in the field, it is clear that MarRem has plenty to offer the community.

To contact MarRem Remington, LMFT, please call her at (510) 835-4357.

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