Women's Initiative e-Newsletter

February 5, 2007


Hi ${member.firstname}, It might not be a big surprise, but for most Americans 2006 was again a year of spending, dipping into savings and borrowing more money to finance purchases. The Commerce Department reported this week that the savings rate for all of 2006 was a negative one percent. What is remarkable is that Women’s Initiative graduates who participate in the matched savings program are beating these savings rates by a large margin. In 2006, we had over 70 participants who saved more than $128,000. This means that they made available over $382,500 for home ownership, business capitalization and higher education. In 2007 we plan to offer 45 new matched savings accounts to our clients.
HOT TOPICS

Release party and book signing to benefit Women's Initiative
Swarm Gallery, owned by Women's Initiative graduate Svea Lin Vezzone, hosts a book release party for “10 Birds With 1 Stone” by Merritt Sher. The book is philosophical snippets from one of America's leading real estate innovators. Wed, Feb. 7, 2007 6-9 pm. Proceeds from the book sales that night will benefit Women's Initiative Oakland. Please join Julie Castro Abrams, CEO of Women's Initiative, and bring a friend to join the party. Swarm Studios is a great space located in Jack London Square, Oakland. CLICK HERE for directions and more information.

Women's Initiative in Marin

Guest speaker Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey

We are proud to share that our first ALAS class geared toward Latina entrepreneurs is underway in San Rafael. The first graduation will be on Fri, Mar. 16 at the Pickleweed Center. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey will be the guest speaker at this graduation and you are welcome to join us! We also have six more classes planned throughout 2007, both in English and Spanish. We are looking to build our advisory council, Get Connected program and fill our classes in Marin County. If you know anyone who might be interested in getting involved in Women's Initiative in any of these ways, please let them know us. We just secured a beautiful new space to hold classes in central San Rafael and we are excited to offer programming there this year.

Our graduates are forging peer networks outside of the training room
Eve Pena and Maria Blanco, 2005 Women's Initiative graduates are encouraging fellow graduates to get together with their classmates. We have a number of Women's Initiative graduating classes that meet regularly and share insights and roadblocks with getting their business off the ground. Eve Pena wrote, “Our San Francisco class of 2005 just recently got together to catch up and had a magnificent time re-capping our business successes and hurdles after graduation.” These types of informal peer advisory groups are popping up in the business community and our innovative graduates have started them through their own initiative.

Barriers on doing business in San Francisco
The City of San Francisco is conducting a survey on barriers to doing business in the city. Women’s Initiative clients and our network of supporters have a lot to offer with their experience of starting and running a business. So whether you are a business owner or hoping to start a business in San Francisco, please consider responding to the survey. To complete the survey online visit www.sfeconomicstrategy.org.
 
POLICY BRIEF

Why women are the focus of our work

According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, for the past two decades majority women-owned firms have continued to grow at around two times the rate of all firms. Women are building businesses, creating safe workspaces and hiring others. However this is not the full picture of what is happening for women in business. There is still a disparity between women owned business, particularly ones owned by women of color. Women entrepreneurs have a huge need for access to training and capital that will help launch their business or expand a current company. Karuna Jaggar, Research and Public Policy Director at Women's Initiative, authored a white paper about why Women's Initiative focuses on training women. Helping women gain tools to become financially independent has an effect far beyond one woman. It means she is able to uplift herself, her family and others (through job creation and mentoring). To read the full white paper, visit http://www.womensinitiative.org/pdf/why_women.pdf.


Subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter. Know someone who might enjoy reading it? Forward them this email.

Email: *
  E-News
First Name:
Last Name:

EVENTS

Our next SuccessLink Connect event is Build Your Brand: Distinguish Your Business from All of the Rest. Share how you have successfully marketed a new product or service, expanded your client base, launched a new product or program, received press through a PR campaign and grew your network. Our entrepreneurs are all at different levels with their marketing strategies and they need your tips. Wed, Feb. 21, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm. CLICK HERE for more information.

Mark Your Calendar: Gala 2007
Tue, May 22 at Westin St. Francis Hotel (San Francisco). Marketplace opens at 5:30 pm. Come early to purchase exquisite jewelry, clothing, and more at the Marketplace or sit for a relaxing massage. Shopping, appetizers, three-course dinner, entertainment, and cocktails. CLICK HERE to buy your table now.

Join San Francisco’s most powerful women in business at our 5th Annual gala - one of the most inspirational events you will attend all year. Your participation will make the dream of business ownership a reality for hundreds of high-potential, low-income women. Carrie Schwab Pomerantz, will receive this year’s Founders’ Award. As the president of Charles Schwab Foundation, Carrie is a leading advocate for investment education. She speaks and writes extensively about personal finance for women and families, and is a driving force in the movement to increase financial literacy in America. For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact Madhuri at (510) 287-3107 or mpottathil@womensinitiative.org.

 
IN THE NEWS

Graduate Lenore Norrgard was featured in the Dec. issue of the St. John Sentinel in “Don’t Squeeze the Shaman” CLICK HERE and you’ll see the article on page 22.

Graduate Laura Cooksey, owner of Face Reality Skin Care, appeared in the Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times on Dec. 4. To read the article CLICK HERE.

Julie Abrams, CEO, discussed microenterprise in the Bay Area on KPFA's Morning Show
Dec. 19, 2006 “Micro Enterprise around the Bay Area”

Women’s Initiative’s founder Paulette Meyer was honored with the Jefferson Award that celebrates local heroes. You can read about her and our graduate Connie Rivera in these outlets:

 
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES

Women’s Network Employee Association scholarship
The Women's Foundation of California and Women's Network Employee Association of PG&E are administering 12 or more scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 each. The scholarship is for young women throughout Central and Northern California for higher education-related expenses. The deadline is April 20th. Please visit our website at www.womensfoundca.org and find the application and guidelines under "What's New." They must reside or go to school in PG&E's service area.

Small Business California survey
This agency is doing a survey of small business owners in California. The results will be delivered to every legislator in the state and the Governor. To access the survey CLICK HERE.