Women's Initiative hosted a conversation with the Honorable Mary Robinson

On Sept 17, the Honorable Mary Robinson challenged 100 attendees of a reception at the Palace Hotel to act quickly to address dire global, social, and economic issues. Women's Initiative for Self Employment hosted the event to create a dialogue about the intersections between women's leadership locally and globally.

"There is the need to regroup on the values of the Universal Declaration [of Human Rights] and to do it in a 21st century way -- to harness the problem solving capacities of businesswomen, to bring out the link of women at all different stages."

According to the Honorable Mary Robinson "There is the need to regroup on the values of the Universal Declaration [of Human Rights] and to do it in a 21st century way -- to harness the problem solving capacities of businesswomen, to bring out the link of women at all different stages." Her account of women's experiences with safety in Darfur and Chad was gruesome and heartbreaking, but the Honorable Mary Robinson reminded us that these women were not the victims of their situation. She noted that these women were looking for jobs, training, and sharing their stories in hopes that the safety situation in their countries will improve. She also challenged the audience to address the economic gap that exists between the poor and the rich and proposed that we must support those in need. Women's Initiative and the Women Leaders Intercultural Forum (WLIF) empower women from diverse economic, social, and ethnic background. With this joint commitment to improving the lives of women and the underserved, the two organizations show the power of placing women in leadership positions at all levels, which in turn encourages more leadership and problem-solving.

Three winners of the first business plan competition
With the help of Igloo Consulting Women's Initiative was able to put on the first Business Plan Competition as part of our SuccessLink program. Mike Lee, co-founder of Igloo Consulting, and Winnie Lam, Business Consultant for Igloo Consulting, put together a series of seminars to help graduates improve and update their business plan. For all business owners that plan is their roadmap to success. Graduates who attended the seminars submitted their business plan to the competition. We are please to announce the winners:

Congratulations to all of you! Women's Initiative can’t wait to see where your new business plans take you!

Women's Initiative staff members win awards
Julie Castro Abrams, CEO, is the honoree for this year’s inaugural CEDAW Human Rights Award for Entrepreneurship. Other honorees on the line-up for the “Women Making a Difference” gala are Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Rep Nancy Pelosi, and Beverly Upton. The award will be presented on December 12, 2007.

Additionally, Sandra Murillo, who has been with Women’s Initiative for seven years and was originally an ALAS client, was honored by the San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco Business Times, and Wells Fargo Bank as one of the 35 most in influential Latinos in the San Francisco Bay Area in the area Nonprofit/ Philanthropy. She received her award at the 2007 Latino Business Leadership Awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency on September 28, 2007.

Carla DaSilva
Karma Café

Carla’s passion for cooking started when she was just eight years-old. She learned how to cook over the phone. Because her mother was often busy at work, Carla would receive instruction on how to make a dish from her mother by telephone. Since then Carla has been cooking for friends and family. After many years of improving her culinary skills she had the idea of applying those skills into a formal business.

In 2003, with her twenty years of culinary experience, and having just graduated from Women’s Initiative, Carla began her first business venture. Although Carla understands food, it was her training with Women’s Initiative that helped her develop her business. “Women’s Initiative taught me to improve my business idea, to narrow my focus and to be open to what my clients want.”

Originally, Carla’s idea was to open Karma Café showcasing live music and serving small soul food plates. She visualized that her café would be a place where people would visit on Friday nights, returning regularly. Carla is still pursuing this dream while taking steps to generate earnings that she can live on. At the moment, Carla’s Karma Café is a soul food catering and gourmet hot dog cart business. She shared that, “I wanted to keep my entrepreneurial mind going.” Carla made her first sale as a hot dog vender in 2004. It was a momentous moment. Carla attributes her early success to the training and support she received at Women's Initiative. “Women’s Initiative gave me the courage to start my own business. I never thought I could do it. Others ask how I got started and I tell them that they can do it too….they just need to go and get the training from Women’s Initiative.”

Carla operates her hot dog cart every Saturday at the farmer’s market in South San Francisco where she makes around $300 per weekend. She also caters at private parties. Carla offers different types of gourmet hot dogs including an excellent spicy chicken sausage that people often request. Carla also has great respect for the environment and incorporates eco-friendly practices by using mostly paper products that can be recycled. She has also cut down on disposable plastics used and intends to operate Karma Café with the same principles.

As a testament to Carla cooking skills and business savvy, Carla’s delicious hot dogs have caught the attention of those outside of South San Francisco. Carla is currently in discussion to put a California style hot dog store in the new San Jose Airport extension. She commented, “This project has been in the works for three years now and the deal is just coming to an end.” Her dream of Karma Café is also in the works. She is rewriting her business plan and saving money so she can open the café in two years.

With her enthusiasm, passion, and continued support from Women’s Initiative, Carla is on the way to realizing her dream.

      - Julieta Pomares