EmailLabs Template - Newsletter Right Column

Introduction

2009 is off to an exciting start for Women's Initiative.
We've launched a new regional structure to support our expansion and will celebrate the opening of our newest facility in San Jose - more on both below. But as news about the economy goes from bad to worse, we know that we - and our clients - have a tough year ahead of us. With nearly 10% of American's out of work, how do you think women are faring? I am afraid women are feeling the pain in far more ways than just economic. Family economic stress leads to increased violence in the home. So my friends, it is urgent that we band together and build true economic options for women where they can find independence and their own future. As a country, we have a choice to make. What do we value and how are we going to create a stable economic future for our country? One thing we know is that microentrepreneurs aren't laying off 6,000 workers on Monday morning. History shows that during an economic downturn, microenterprise businesses are responsible for creating the majority of new jobs. We're confident that our clients will build businesses, create jobs, contribute to the economy, give back to the community, and help pull the Bay Area out of the recession. These women need your support in order to be successful. If you haven't yet, now is a great time to get involved with Women's Initiative. As a volunteer, a mentor or a connector, we'd love to have you become part of our network. Buy from the 'Orange Pages' on our website. And, of course, your financial support is crucial now. You can take action not only to empower women, but also to save the economy!

-Julie Castro Abrams
Women's Initiative CEO

Top

Graduate Spotlight

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Phasellus dui non magna commodo nascetur ridiculus volutpat porttitor, ullamcorper sed, lobortis pretium, mi. Cum sociis volutpat porttitor, ullamcorper sed, lobortis pretium, mi. Cum sociis nascetur ridiculus mus. Suspendisse blandit diflm mus. Suspendisse blandit dui non magna commodo elementum dolor.

Recent Awards

Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, the Bay Area nonprofit which provides business training and access to capital to empower low-income women to launch their own businesses, is the recipient of three prestigious state and national awards. The awards include:

2009 Family Strengthening Award, NCLR (National Council of La Raza)
NCLR, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, will present three community organizations, including Women’s Initiative, with a Family Strengthening Award for the organization’s programs which have had a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. Along with the award, representatives from Women’s Initiative will receive a cash prize of $16,500. In addition, representatives from Women’s Initiative will lead a workshop at the NCLR Annual Conference, July 25-27 in Chicago, showcasing the organization’s best practices to other community-based organizations. For more information, visit www.nclr.org.

2009 California Affiliate of the Year, NCLR (National Council of La Raza)
Women’s Initiative has been selected as NCLR California Affiliate of the Year, one of four regional honors given to affiliate organizations for exemplary work in serving its local community and for supporting NCLR’s policy and programmatic initiatives. In addition to the award, Women’s Initiative will receive a $5,000 cash prize.

Finalist, 2009 Leadership Awards, James Irvine Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards recognize California leaders who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to significant state issues. Women’s Initiative CEO Julie Castro Abrams was a finalist for the award. The organization received a $25,000 cash prize. For more information about the Leadership Awards, visit www.irvine.org/leadership/leadership-awards

Women's Initiative's CEO Julie Castro Abrams receives four honors for her contributions to Bay Area women and small business. She was honored by the League of Women Voters, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, the San Francisco Business Times, and the Small Business Administration

Read Full Article | Email Feedback | Top

Policy Call to Action

Congress is beginning to draft its 2010 funding priorities.

The Appropriations Subcommittees are considering President Obama's budget request and requests from constituents as they decide specific allocations for programs that serve low-income individuals and families.

E-mail, write or call your legislators to support funding for asset-building programs. The Capitol switchboard number is 202.224.3121. Click TAKE ACTION to send an e-mail.

Support programs at the following levels:

$24 million for Assets for Independence (AFI) which has helped 62,000 IDA participants save for asset-building purchases. AFI has been nearly fully funded in the past eight years.

$50 million for Microloans to provide small loans to startup, newly established, or growing small businesses. Under this microloan program, SBA makes funds available to nonprofit community-based lenders (intermediaries) which, in turn, make loans to eligible borrowers in amounts ranging from $500 to $35,000.

$20 million for Microloan TA to provide technical assistance (TA) or business counseling for microloan recipients.

$15 million for PRIME to provide grants to community-based organizations to offer training and technical assistance to the nation's low-income entrepreneurs. The program facilitates the provision of capacity building services to microenterprise development organizations. It is the only SBA program to specifically target very low-income entrepreneurs.

Read Full List | Email Feedback | Top

Introduction 2009 is off to an exciting start for Women's Initiative. We've launched a new regional structure to support our expansion and will celebrate the opening of our newest facility in San Jose - more on both below. But as news about the economy goes from bad to worse, we know that we - and our clients - have a tough year ahead of us. With nearly 10% of American's out of work, how do you think women are faring? I am afraid women are feeling the pain in far more ways than just economic. Family economic stress leads to increased violence in the home. So my friends, it is urgent that we band together and build true economic options for women where they can find independence and their own future. As a country, we have a choice to make. What do we value and how are we going to create a stable economic future for our country? One thing we know is that microentrepreneurs aren't laying off 6,000 workers on Monday morning. History shows that during an economic downturn, microenterprise businesses are responsible for creating the majority of new jobs. We're confident that our clients will build businesses, create jobs, contribute to the economy, give back to the community, and help pull the Bay Area out of the recession. These women need your support in order to be successful. If you haven't yet, now is a great time to get involved with Women's Initiative. As a volunteer, a mentor or a connector, we'd love to have you become part of our network. Buy from the 'Orange Pages' on our website. And, of course, your financial support is crucial now. You can take action not only to empower women, but also to save the economy! -Julie Castro Abrams Women's Initiative CEO Top	July 2009 In This Issue: Introduction:. Hot Topics: Graduate Spotlight : Recent Awards Women's Initiative for Self-Employment is the recipient of three prestigious state and national awards. Policy Call to ActionCongress is beginning to draft its 2010 funding priorities.
Hot Topics In this section we should include something regarding recent graduations, events (walking tours, breakfasts,etc) and something related to the fellowship program. 2 or 3 paragraphs for each section should be fine. Any other thoughts? Top
Graduate Spotlight Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Phasellus dui non magna commodo nascetur ridiculus volutpat porttitor, ullamcorper sed, lobortis pretium, mi. Cum sociis volutpat porttitor, ullamcorper sed, lobortis pretium, mi. Cum sociis nascetur ridiculus mus. Suspendisse blandit diflm mus. Suspendisse blandit dui non magna commodo elementum dolor. Read Full Article \| Email Feedback \| Top
Recent Awards Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, the Bay Area nonprofit which provides business training and access to capital to empower low-income women to launch their own businesses, is the recipient of three prestigious state and national awards. The awards include: 2009 Family Strengthening Award, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) NCLR, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, will present three community organizations, including Women’s Initiative, with a Family Strengthening Award for the organization’s programs which have had a measurable impact in strengthening Latino families. Along with the award, representatives from Women’s Initiative will receive a cash prize of $16,500. In addition, representatives from Women’s Initiative will lead a workshop at the NCLR Annual Conference, July 25-27 in Chicago, showcasing the organization’s best practices to other community-based organizations. For more information, visit www.nclr.org. 2009 California Affiliate of the Year, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) Women’s Initiative has been selected as NCLR California Affiliate of the Year, one of four regional honors given to affiliate organizations for exemplary work in serving its local community and for supporting NCLR’s policy and programmatic initiatives. In addition to the award, Women’s Initiative will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Finalist, 2009 Leadership Awards, James Irvine Foundation The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards recognize California leaders who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to significant state issues. Women’s Initiative CEO Julie Castro Abrams was a finalist for the award. The organization received a $25,000 cash prize. For more information about the Leadership Awards, visit www.irvine.org/leadership/leadership-awards Women's Initiative's CEO Julie Castro Abrams receives four honors for her contributions to Bay Area women and small business. She was honored by the League of Women Voters, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, the San Francisco Business Times, and the Small Business Administration Read Full Article \| Email Feedback \| Top
Policy Call to Action Congress is beginning to draft its 2010 funding priorities. The Appropriations Subcommittees are considering President Obama's budget request and requests from constituents as they decide specific allocations for programs that serve low-income individuals and families. E-mail, write or call your legislators to support funding for asset-building programs. The Capitol switchboard number is 202.224.3121. Click TAKE ACTION to send an e-mail. Support programs at the following levels: $24 million for Assets for Independence (AFI) which has helped 62,000 IDA participants save for asset-building purchases. AFI has been nearly fully funded in the past eight years. $50 million for Microloans to provide small loans to startup, newly established, or growing small businesses. Under this microloan program, SBA makes funds available to nonprofit community-based lenders (intermediaries) which, in turn, make loans to eligible borrowers in amounts ranging from $500 to $35,000. $20 million for Microloan TA to provide technical assistance (TA) or business counseling for microloan recipients. $15 million for PRIME to provide grants to community-based organizations to offer training and technical assistance to the nation's low-income entrepreneurs. The program facilitates the provision of capacity building services to microenterprise development organizations. It is the only SBA program to specifically target very low-income entrepreneurs. Read Full List \| Email Feedback \| Top	Women's Initiative Policy Paper Add a brief blurb about the policy paper. Read Full Article \| Email Feedback \| Top
July is Microenterprise Month in California – take action today! I. Nominate your favorite women-owned business. Send an email to lsilver@womensinitiative.org telling her why you love this business. II. Call your legislator and tell them that they must invest in women starting and growing business in order to save our economy, create jobs and create a just economic system. Click TAKE ACTION to send an e-mail. III. Get Connected! Connect your business and personal connections into the Women’s Initiative community - Link to our Facebook and connect your friends - Send an e introduction sharing why you love this organization and linking to our website www.womensinitiative.org. Encourage your friends to sponsor a woman’s dream today so that we all have economic vibrancy tomorrow - Invite your friends to join you on a walking tour: Next Tour on July 15 4:30 – 7:00pm, San Francisco includes dinner at the Front Porch: contact Lily Laurence at llaurence@womensinitiative.org. - Connect us into your company’s “women’s initiative” or other ethnic groups so we can spread the word, engage volunteers and create vibrant partnerships. We are always seeking Spanish speaking connectors! Contact: Kelly Hardesty at khardesty@womensinitiative.org Top

Introduction

July 2009

In This Issue:

Hot Topics

Graduate Spotlight

Recent Awards

Policy Call to Action

Women's Initiative Policy Paper

www.womensinitiative.org 1398 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, Ph: 415-641-3460

www.womensinitiative.org

1398 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, Ph: 415-641-3460