| HOT
TOPICS |
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| Last
Tuesday Women’s Initiative
held its fourth annual Gala
event at the Westin St.
Francis Hotel. Over 550
people attended –
200 more than last year
– and twenty-eight
Women’s Initiative
graduates sold their wares
and promoted their services
at the Marketplace and reception
at the gala. Marketplace
booths hand everything from
beautifully designed jewelry
to relaxing massages –
not one guest left empty-handed.
This year’s gala honoring
women who walk the walk
awarded Women’s Initiative
graduate Eva Saavedra, owner
of El Huarache Azteca, with
the Entrepreneur of the
Year award and Lisa Stevens,
Regional President of Wells
Fargo Bank, with the Founders’
Award.
Warren
Hellman, surprise guest
to honor Lisa Stevens
with the Founders' Award.
photo: Roxanne Quezada
Chartouni |
Warren
Hellman was a surprise guest
who honored Lisa Stevens
with her award. The event
raised over $300,000 for
Women’s Initiative
to support business training
programs and kicked off
the Campaign for Economic
Independence. Our campaign
goal is to serve 10,000
women by 2010 in five different
Bay Area cities.
Cloey
Hewlett and DeeDee Towery,
Gala Co-chairs present
Eva Saavedra with the
Entrepreneur of the
Year award.
photo: Amber Rose Photography
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Emcee
and Board member Mary
Huss with graduate Eva
Saavedra, owner of El
Huarache Azteca and
recipient of the Entrepreneur
of the Year award. photo:
Roxanne Quezada Chartouni.
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| GRADUATE
SPOTLIGHT |
|
 Serena
Bartlett
Founder/Author GrassRoutes Travel
We
all know that Oakland is a great place,
but somehow its greatness has escaped
many tourists. This might be because most
area travel guides — if they even
mention Oakland at all — barely
get beyond Jack London Square.
One
local writer is working to change this
with the first book in her travel guide
series, GrassRoutes Travel Guides. These
guides aim not only to share great spots
with travelers (and locals, too), but
also to highlight businesses with community
and environmentally minded practices.
Serena
Bartlett has lived in six countries in
the last six years, and every time she
relocated, she sought out the same things:
authentic food and culture, locally-owned
businesses, community events and healthy
environmental practices. She truly has
a knack for getting to know new places.
GrassRoutes
Guides seek to bring an influx of tourism
to cities that aren't currently on the
typical tourist itinerary. They are also
organized in a new way with chapters like
"Casual Night Out", "Weekend",
and "City for Free", instead
of the typical restaurant section that
runs the gamut from fast food to fine
dining. There are no chains included,
only great local businesses that also
have a community or environmentally sound
mode of operating. She believes anyone,
no matter how wealthy, can have a rich
cultural experience, and can make a positive
impact on the world by the choices they
make on their trips and in their everyday
lives.
The
guidebook has been released! Order your
copy online at http://www.lulu.com/grassroutes
and purchase it at your local bookstore,
including Walden Pond Books. Check out
her blog for detailed information and
updates.
grassroutesguides@gmail.com
grassroutesguides.blogspot.com |
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| WATCH
VIDEOS that premiered at the gala |
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| EVENTS |
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Women’s
Initiative graduate Tatyana Ryevzina
is offering low-fee drop-in group acupuncture.
Sessions are from 5-7pm on the third
Monday of every month (first session
is 6/19) at 7th Heaven Yoga, 2820 Seventh
Street (at Heinz), Berkeley CA 94710.
For more information contact (510) 282-7949
or visit www.easternsunacupuncture.com
How
Did She Do That?
Project Night Night, an organization
dedicated to improving the lives of
homeless children, is hosting a forum
where women who aspire to run their
own businesses can ask questions about
everything they want to know about starting
a business. The event will feature keynote
speaker Karen Neuburger of KN Ltd. Karen
was our gala 2004 Founders’ Award
recipient. The event will take place
Tuesday, June 27 from 9-10:30am at Yerba
Buena Center for the Arts, Screening
Room, 701 Mission Street (at Third),
San Francisco. Tickets are $30 and to
purchase CLICK
HERE.
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| GET
INVOLVED |
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Calling
all Connectors
Our next connect event will focus on
overcoming fear of success. Share how
you have overcome obstacles, taken necessary
risks, developed strategies to evaluate
options, or built your personal strength.
Our entrepreneurs have shown great courage
by taking the risk of starting a business.
Now they need practical tips as they
decide whether to hire that next staff
person, sign a lease or leave their
job and go full time into their business.
And they need the inspiration that you
provide.
Taking
the Next Step – Overcoming Fear!
July 26, 2006
2:00pm – 4:30pm
Preservation Park, Oakland
RSVP
to Thais Rezende at
(415) 328-4586 |
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| IN
THE NEWS |
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| Have
you heard the buzz about our gala? Three
of our graduates were highlighted in the
San Francisco Examiner on June 6th, "Trio
of women recognized for entrepreneurship."
CLICK
HERE to view the story by scrolling
to the end of the page. Women's Initiative
had a full-page ad about our gala in San
Francisco Business Times. We are also
featured in the June issue of 7x7 magazine.
Allison Baakarat, Bakesale Betty is featured
in the Oakland Tribune, check out the
article “Try
Australian lamingtons down under or in
East Bay.” |
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| DID
YOU KNOW? |
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California
has more microenterprises than any other
state in the nation, practically two
times as many. 2,829,108 compared to
1,662,311 in New York or 1,549,001 in
Florida. Source: AEO 2006 Legislative
Priorities |
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