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Please
join us for a cocktail reception to learn more
about Women's Initiative and its graduates.
Thursday,
September 22, 2005
5:00 - 7:00pm
Reception located in the lobby and garden of
245
Lytton Ave. (at Emerson)
Downtown
Palo Alto
Event
generously sponsored by Sand Hill Advisors and
Borel Private Bank & Trust Company
Founded
in 1988, Women's Initiative assists low-income
women of diverse ethnic and social backgrounds
in becoming economically self-sufficient through
entrepreneurial activities. Our organization
has proven that women create jobs for themselves
and others, access the mainstream economy, and
increase their economic self-sufficiency when
they are given business planning and financing
support.
Our graduates have started over 1,900 business
from photography studios to catering companies
and mechanic shops.
Women's Initiative tracks participant outcomes
and finds that women dramatically increase their
incomes, with the average and median incomes
of the participants increasing by 85% within
18 months following completion of our comprehensive
business management training. During our history,
Women's Initiative for Self Employment has served
more than 13,000 women. Through our revolving
loan fund, we have disbursed over $800,000 to
our clients and helped them to leverage more
than $1,800,000 in capital from other lending
sources.
We hope you can join us on September
22nd.
Please RSVP to Heather Haxo Phillips at hphillps@womensinitiative.org
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Graduate
Spotlight
Quela Mikell
Quela Mikell began sewing at the age of nine,
when she began creating fashionable outfits
for her Barbie dolls. After receiving formal
sewing training as an adult, Quela worked
as a quality control inspector in the garment
industry. She eventually started her own business
to recapture the creativity that sewing initially
inspired.
When Quela came to Women's Initiative
for training, she had already launched Royal
Jewelz Loungewear, a line of clothing made
of high-quality, 100% cotton African fabrics.
Today Quela has at storefront
for her business at 371 17th Street in Oakland.
Quela was honored at last year’s gala
with the Entrepreneur of the Year award for
her business success. "It's knowing who your
market is, how to find your market, what the
market will bear and what's popular," she
says. Quela admits there were parts of her
Women's Initiative training that were challenging,
such as developing cash flow statements and
a business plan. However, a Women's Initiative
small business consultant helped to push her
over these hurdles, reminding Quela of all
that she had accomplished and encouraging
her to reach for more. Quela has succeeded
in creating loungewear that is, in her own
words, "not just a fashion statement —
it is wearable art."
To
read more Graduate Spotlights,
CLICK
HERE.
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