|
|
|
The
California Budget Project (download
PDF) just released a report that outlines how Bay
Area families fared during the economic boom and bust.
This report outlines how wage growth soared for the
highest paid segment of the community, housing prices
obviously increased as well. However, the “rising
tide” did not raise the income for the lower-income
segment of the population. While housing prices soared,
their incomes remained stagnant and their lives became
increasingly difficult. Our recent reports show
that Women’s Initiative graduates pay on average
$14.49 an hour for their employees, almost twice the
minimum wage. While we have known that our
program results in significant income increases for
the women themselves, we are only now seeing the dramatic
benefit to the local community. Their businesses are
largely socially conscious and the women give back to
the community in significant ways. We look forward to
sharing our full findings report with you this fall. |
| HOT
TOPICS |
|
Will
Contra Costa Embrace a Women's
Initiative training site?
All Signs Point to Yes.
Concord,
CA – On July 27th, nearly
50 Contra Costa community leaders
gathered to lay the groundwork
for a Women's Initiative site
in Contra Costa County. The
event was co-hosted by Contra
Costa County Workforce Services
and sponsored by Ernie Guerrero,
owner of La Tapatia Mexican
Cuisine. Graduate Melina Markarian,
owner of Bay Area eBusiness
and a resident of Contra Costa
County for 5 years, spoke about
the need for a site in the area.
For her it would
have made all the difference
to not have to face a two hour
commute on public transportation
to get to Oakland for classes
twice a week. Additionally to
build business contacts and
grow her business in the area,
the opening of a Contra Costa
site would be a blessing because
it would mean being able to
work with clients and network
with other business owners from
her own community. Board member
Paula LeRoy divulged information
about why Women's Initiative
programs have worked so well
in Oakland and San Francisco.
| "...it
would have made all the
difference to not have to
face a two hour commute..." |
The
attendees were enthusiastic
about a shared vision of helping
Contra Costa women becoming
economically independent. How
do you see yourself fitting
into that vision? Are you a
Contra Costa resident or care
about creating a more vibrant
local economy in the area? We
are looking for representatives
to join the Advisory Council
who will lead the effort to
open a site through fundraising
efforts, serving as Women's
Initiative ambassadors and advising
the organization on the trends
and issues in the community.
For more information, please
contact Julie Castro Abrams
at (510) 287-3110.
Fear
Looms Over Our Decision-making
– Until Now. Women's
Initiative Grads Embrace Their
Grumbling Gremlins to Make Changes
that Work for Them and Their
Business.
Last
week 65 Women’s Initiative
graduates and 50 Business Connectors
attended an event about “Taking
the next step – overcoming
fear!” at Preservation
Park in Oakland. Key note speaker
Pat Wiklund, owner of 1PersonBusiness.com,
author of Taking Charge When
You're Not in Control and media
presenter (including appearing
on Oprah twice) Pat encourages
women to not dwell on their
past mistakes, but instead focus
on their future, and the possibility
of success. Graduates and connectors
loved the speech. A panel of
business experts then discussed
the issues of quitting your
job to pursue your business
full-time, renting out a space
for your business, and hiring
employees. Attendees then met
with over 30 connectors who
provided advice on issues specific
to their businesses. The excitement
and enthusiasm from both the
graduates and connects made
this event a resounding success.
Additionally, it seems that
overcoming fear is a hot topic
in business right now, check
out Ilana DeBare’s Minding
Your Business column in The
Chronicle last week, CLICK
HERE.
|
|
|
CEO
COUNSEL |
|
|
 Wisdom
from Paula Downey, President of AAA of
Northern California, Nevada and Utah
A special interview by Women's Initiative
Women's
Initiative has recently started a CEO
COUNSEL column in the eNewsletter for
graduates. Do you know a CEO that we should
interview? Contact Justina Cross at (510)
287-3109 or jcross@womensinitiative.org.
Here is a snippet of the first
edition: Paula F. Downey oversees
the second largest club of the national
AAA federation, with more than $2.2 billion
in annual revenue and more than 4.2 million
members. Paula was also a co-chair of
the Women's Initiative gala in 2005 and
has been a strong advocate for Women's
Initiative. Women's
Initiative picked Paula's brain about
her leadership -- how it has changed over
time and what motivates her.
What
are a few important things to do when
making major changes in business?
Most people don’t like change, so
change is hard. If you want to enlist
people in change, they need to understand
why there is a need to change and they
need to be able to see a compelling vision
of the future. So, it’s important
to communicate the reasons for change
in a way that will be understood and will
be a call to action. It’s also important
to understand the impact of change, especially
on people. This helps ensure that you
have a strong change management plan,
that you are involving the right people,
and that you have a realistic sense of
the time needed to effect the change.
People respond to change differently.
It’s okay to acknowledge this and
still set an expectation that you want
and need people on board with the change.
In
your view as a leader and role model for
women, how can women excel in becoming
community leaders?
Being a business leader in a community-oriented
business like AAA is being a community
leader. And it’s not necessarily
enough. Community service is also important.
Think about what you are truly passionate
about. It might be education, the environment,
opportunities for youth or something else.
Find an organization that matches your
interests. Then jump in with both feet.
Look for how you can contribute your talents
to the organization, including taking
on leadership roles over time.
|
|
|
|
Take
a Load Off
Having
you been meaning to weed through
your closets and kitchen? Get
rid of toys your kids don’t
play with anymore? What about
the piece of furniture in your
garage that you’ve been
wanting to get rid off? You can
take care of your Spring Cleaning
and help Women's Initiative at
the same time! Donate your items
to Community Thrift Store
and let them know your favorite
charity is us! It’s easy
to designate your recycled items
to benefit our programs. Drop
off items at 623 Valencia Street
(near 17th Street - San Francisco).
Call (415) 861-4910 for donation
hours.
|
|
|
| BE
A LEADER |
|
Join
the Leadership Council
Friday, August 11, 2006
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Scott's Restaurant,
Jack London Square - Oakland
What is the
business conference? This event
is the East Bay’s largest gathering
of women in business. We anticipate
600–1000 people for this day of
high-level business connecting.
Who
is involved? Co-chairs Terry
Alderete with Alderete Business Visions
and Mario Juarez of Fireside Realty
of Oakland will lead the charge. Ana
Chretien, owner of ABC Securities and
our luncheon honoree will join us for
the kick-off breakfast.
RSVP
by August 9th to Madhuri Pottathil at
(510) 287-3107.
|
| SAVE
THE DATE |
|
Wednesday,
October 25
8:00am - 5:00pm
Oakland Marriott
Do you want to help make Taking
Care of Business, our business
conference designed for graduates, a smashing
success? We are looking for connectors,
seminar presenters and other support.
Call Madhuri at (510) 287-3107 to find
out how you can get involved today. |
| |
| MAKING
NEWS |
|
|
Graduate
Darlene Roberts was
accepted to the Techquity program of
the Renaissance Center. Her grant will
go to purchasing a laptop to help run
her business. Darlene is excited about
using technology to manage her business.
Additionally, she gives Women's Initiative
credit for helping her to develop the
business plan that was needed to apply
for the Techquity grant. Darlene is
convinced that her training at Women's
Initiative is what gave her the competitive
edge.
Tanya Alsberg, owner
of TheRealProof, was also awarded a
Techquity grant for her business.Tanya
will use the grant to purchase technology
to help stay in contact with clients
and to buy a great desktop printer for
creating brochures and marketing materials.
Congratulations to both our graduates!
Jen Armstrong, owner
of JAK Designs, was recently certified
as a San Francisco Green Business. JAK
Designs is the only clothing company
in their listing. CLICK
HERE to view the listing.
Women’s Initiative was
featured in the “Scene and Heard”
section of August’s 7x7
issue. The blurb includes a picture
from our “Women Who Walk the Walk”
gala in June.
DID
YOU KNOW? Since
1988, Women's Initiative has already
served 848 residents in Contra Costa
County – and we don’t even
have a site there yet! Imagine what
it would be like to connect women entrepreneurs
in Richmond, Concord and other cities
in Contra Costa with the resources and
networks it takes to start a business.
Women would become more economically
independent, locally owned stores would
spring up in neighborhoods and we’d
all reap the benefits of a safer, more
vibrant county.
|
|
|
|
|
