Welcome The New ETS Spring Class!

The New ETS Spring Class of Entrepreneurs!

On Saturday, March 23, Empowered Women International hosted a Meet & Greet, the first session of the Entrepreneurship Training for Success (ETS) class. ETS is a series of 23 classes, including business and financial literacy labs, a business plan pitch, and final graduation, which are a part of a three-month intensive entrepreneurship program.

The range of businesses in this class include arts, crafts, apparel, writing, publishing, jewelry, consulting, organizing, cleaning, film, translating, health, child care, cooking, sustainable housing, and irrigation systems.

Marga Fripp, President, discussing the finer points of the ETS program, with Sharmila Karamchandani, Lead Trainer, on the right.

The focus for the Meet & Greet session was on getting to know everyone, as well discuss the program itself, and on spiritual transformations as the beginning of the empowering process. Founder Marga Fripp shared a powerful TED Talk by Ric Elias, a passenger of Flight 1549: the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009, at the beginning of afternoon session.

 

Following this video, the ETS students shared with the group their transforming moments, which got them to this point in their life and why they wanted to be a part of ETS. It is only when a person is ready to make a change in their life that they are really able to change and become empowered.  This time for self-reflection and introspection was a wonderful way for the women to bond together.

Mentor Marcela Kogan and ETS student Kira Washington

ETS students Charmelle Clark and Jane Mwinuka, Mentor Chris Ollis, and ETS student Cleopatra Magwaro

The ETS Team: Mary Louise Marino (Outreach & Operations Manager), Hanna Yamir (Program Associate Intern), Sara Seavey (Monitoring & Evaluation Intern), Marga Fripp (President & Founder), Alexandra Standal (Development Associate), and Sharmila Karamchandani (Lead Trainer)

We are so excited to welcome the new class of entrepreneurs. Onward and Upward Spring ETS class!

By Sara Seavey, Monitoring & Evaluation Intern

Mentors Get Oriented to Spring

Spring is here, and our ETS Mentors are more than ready to jump-start the season with radiating enthusiasm and a sense of fulfillment as they look forward to sharing their knowledge and ideas with our new Spring ETS students. On Monday, March 18, our returning and new volunteer mentors got together to introduce themselves, discuss the program, and how to create an environment of support.

Deborah Blank, Mentor Coordinator, leads the orientation.

The orientation and discussion outlined some of the major components of the program, as well as the importance of building a community of mentors with an emphasis on networking, interacting, and empowering women to express their thoughts, ideas, and boosting their confidence. Along with training women to be business savvy, the focus will also be on supporting their creativity and pushing them to develop clarity with their products and services.

One of the most important lessons I learned from the discussion was how determined women, equipped with the right ideas and creativity, can uplift not just their selves and families but the entire community and nation. While the program will serve as a medium to discover their full potential with their business (with the extraordinary support of our mentors, trainers, and guest speakers), it motivates them to surpass any challenge along the way, and in turn, be more civically engaged.

Clementine Simmons (Mentor), Chris Ollis (Mentor), Eileen Kessler (Mentor), Alexandra Standal (Development Associate), Sharmila Karamchandani (Lead Trainer), Charlene Gatewood, Deborah Blank (Mentor Coordinator and Board Advisory), Mariam Mohamed (2012 ETS Graduate), and Marcela Kogan (Mentor)

Thank you to all our amazing mentors and the time and talents you’re giving to our new class of women entrepreneurs!

By Hanna Yamir, Program Associate Intern

Upcoming Featured Event – Spring 2 Action!

APRIL 17 – Get Ready for Spring2Action I One day online giving

Remember last year when we reached out to you nonstop for one day to help us raise funds to support our work? For a whole twenty-four hours on one day, the whole city of Alexandria sprung into action and gave and gave to all us charities… It was a great day. Because of you, our donors and supports and volunteers. You helped make EWI history.

We exceed our own goal in dollars raised and donors rallied. EWI placed 2nd with the most number of donors and 3rd place for the most dollars raised. We raised $24,000 in one day. ACT for Alexandria is taking us all to task again this year with their exceptional fundraising marathon, set for April 17th.

This year we’re raising the stakes because we believe in the power of your support, the power of our capacity, and the power of the women we support.

Are you ready? We ARE. Read more

Mariana Alvarado: My experience as a Graphic Designer Volunteer at EWI

Here with Mary, Alexandra, Marga, Perry, and one of the interns.

When I decided to go back to the work force after being a stay at home mom for 6 years, my strategy was to go back to school and update my design knowledge and technical skills. I gained a lot more than that: self confidence.

My son Ian Emiliano is going to turn 8 in April.

After finishing a certificate program in Web Design in The Corcoran College of Art and Design in DC I felt prepared, but then realized that I needed to prove that I can be a valuable asset to any company, and decided to volunteer.

I found EWI by coincidence, or destiny. I come from an artisan family. My  father learned a solder technique from an Hungarian artist when he was 17 years old and worked for him making sculpture and jewelry for a couple of years before starting his own business. I have respect for artisans and appreciation for their work. I understand the challenges that immigrant woman, like myself, have to face in order to succeed in this country. I feel I found the right place for me to develop more skills and feel productive.

2012 Fall Graduation

I visited an ETS class in November and was pleasantly surprised by the energy of the ladies and advisors. Seeing the graduates so proud of themselves on their big graduation day was an inspiring experience for me.

I think empowering women to reach their full potential is a noble cause. I found working with Marga’s team of women very inspiring and empowering!

Join EWI’s BizCorps Team!

Love to Mentor, Advise and Coach Women Entrepreneurs for Success? Only have a few hours to give? We need your services!

MUST HAVE:

• Pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit
• Demonstrated success in business and/or leadership
• Passion for empowering women entrepreneurs
• Cultural competency, empathy, and good coaching abilities

We’re looking for business coaches who have one or more of the following:

• Business coaching or consulting experience
• Entrepreneurial experience
• Industry experience in any of the following: fine art, craft, performing art, photography, graphic design, web design, food, consulting, fashion, beauty, home-based business,
• Functional experience in marketing, sales, social media, product design, strategy, operations, accounting, finance, business plan review

What kind of volunteers are we looking for?!

Business Coach Volunteers

Goal: Provide business advice and guidance to women students in EWI’s entrepreneurial programs to help them develop and launch a small business.

Financial Advisors Volunteers

Goal: Provide financial advice and/or feedback in business or personal finances including pricing products and/or services, record-keeping, tax preparation, cash flow, budgets, breakeven analysis, strategies to improve credit score and other financial matters.

Legal Advisors Volunteers

Goal: Provide legal business advice to helps women students in EWI’s entrepreneurial programs address legal aspects related to their business including but not limited to business registration and licensing, intellectual property, contracts and other matters.

Guest Speaker Volunteers

Goal: Share practical experience, knowledge and wisdom about the topic of discussion. Be open to share your personal experience, talk about failure, learned lessons, and success. Be willing to address questions from students and provide resources you are aware of.

Click here to read more about the responsibilities and roles of our BizCorps team.

APPLY NOW

Apply here to be considered for our Business Corps Volunteer Program.

Join EWI’s Mentor Team!

Passionate about Empowering Women through Entrepreneurship? We need You!

The women chosen for entrepreneurship by EWI embody America’s promise that a better life can be created by anyone with drive and support.  For me, the support part happens on many levels:  business mentoring, confidence-building, and skills transfer.  As a former entrepreneur, I can channel my expertise and desire to “do good” directly into women’s futures. – Deborah Blank, Mentor

Without this class, my business plans would not exist. The coaches and mentors have been the best. They have been encouraging, motivating, and especially patient with me and work well considering that English is my second language and I don’t have formal education in business. -Maggie (Maggie and her mentor Deborah)

Mentors are vital to the success of our women entrepreneurs.

We are looking for mentors to serve in training programs in Alexandria, VA and Rockville, MD. Mentors provide guidance, support and encouragement to women students to help them develop and launch a micro-business.

Our students are talented and high-potential micro-entrepreneurs. Many are artists, painters, designers, musicians, dancers, weavers, bakers, chefs, and other creative social entrepreneurs.

Mentors Qualifications

MUST HAVE:

• Pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit
• Demonstrated success in business and/or leadership
• Passion for empowering women entrepreneurs
• Cultural competency, empathy, and good mentoring abilities

Mentor candidates must have one or more of the following:

• Mentoring experience
• Entrepreneurial experience (owned own business, had leadership position at a business or worked in a family business)
• Industry experience in any of the following: fine art, craft, performing art, photography, graphic design, web design, food, consulting, fashion, beauty, home-based business,
• Functional experience in marketing, sales, social media, product design, strategy, operations, accounting, finance, and/or business plan review

Click here to learn more about mentor responsibilities and to learn how to apply for consideration to join our mentor team!

Bits + Pieces

1. Perri, EWI’s Outreach Coordinator, and Mariana, EWI’s graphic design volunteer, attended Language ETC’s Community Services Fair in DC on Tuesday

2. On Thursday, Perri and Mary, EWI’s Program Manager, had a great social media planning meeting at Cosi in Virginia Square!

3. This week EWI graduate and volunteer, Velma Crawford, was interviewed on Mining the Heart radio show on XM radio.

4. EWI graduates Aida and Lizzie came to our office (just in time for some surprise VDay chocolate covered strawberries!) in preparation for the Micro-Business Lending Conference in Richmond on February 25th and 26th. The two fantastic food entrepreneurs will be part of the “Meet the Micros” segment of the conference. Marga will introduce the women entrepreuners and discuss the role that technical assistance plays in the development of micro enterprises. She will moderate a discussion with the women about their work, needs, and their business goals for the future.

5. Development Associate, Alexandra, met Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor while out and about in DC! So exciting!

6. We celebrated Valentine’s Day with lots of roses, chocolates, heart shaped brownies, and a lovely Lebanese lunch! We hope you all had a great day celebrating loved ones, too!

Happy weekend, everyone! Don’t forget to check back on Monday for a Mondays With Marga post and a new Coach’s Corner!

Wanted: Interns!

Have you ever wanted to become more involved with EWI’s day-to-day activities and projects?! Now’s your chance!

EWI is looking for two passionate, hardworking, creative, and enthusiastic people to fill our two open intern positions for the Spring! We have openings for a Program Associate Intern and for a Community Partnerships Intern.

EWI’s Fall 2012 Interns (Jeremy, Charlia, Mina, and Melinda) celebrating EWI with staff members Mary and Alexandra!

The Program Associate Intern will…

Work closely with EWI’s Program Manager and the Executive Director to assist in the coordination and execution of a series of organizational projects.

1) Prepare and support EWI team for the launching of the Entrepreneur Training for Success, Grow My Business, the Mentor and Business Coaching Programs
2) Assist in providing client services (client intake management, follow up with clients, research and client resources and referrals)
3) Contribute to organizing events (home parties, artist marketplace, business plan pitch, graduation, etc. – calendaring, logistics, coordination, planning)
4) General office administration (data entry, research, ordering supplies, etc.)
5) Assist in planning and organizing fundraising campaigns and events

To read the full position description and apply for the Program Associate Internship, click here!

Summer 2012 Interns Hellina, Sallie, and Teal enjoying some cake at our Spring 2012 graduation ceremony!

The Community Partnerships Intern will…

Work closely with the Program Manager and the Outreach Coordinator to
1) expand EWI’s outreach efforts to culturally diverse communities in the Greater Washington DC area
2) expand recruitment efforts to sustain an on-going enrollment of client applicants for our entrepreneur incubator,
3) develop and implement strategies to recruit and manage mentors, volunteers, and business coaches
4) build new strategic partnerships, cultivate existing ones, and develop mutually-beneficial incentives.

To read the full position description and apply for the Community Partnerships Internship, click here!

Jeremy, Alexandria, Charlia, and Perri at EWI’s Holiday Marketplace!

We hope you’ll join us for a fun-filled and energetic Spring of Empowering Women!

How do I get a loan for my micro-business?!

So, you’ve written a business plan and you’re ready to launch your micro-business- but where do you get a loan?!

On February 25th and 26th EWI will be participating in the Micro Business Lending: Landscape for the New Economy conference at the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, VA.

Kevin Kelly of ECDC Enterprise Development Group

Also in attendance will be our good friend Kevin Kelly from ECDC Enterprise Development Group! Kevin will be speaking about “accepting personal collateral for micro-loans” during the Collateral and Best Practices in Underwriting session of Managing the Loan Process as a Micro-Lender.

Kevin has volunteered with EWI as a judge for our business plan pitch and has also been the leader in our partnership with ECDC, working together to encourage and support micro-entrepreneurs in our communities!

Come join Kevin and other professionals to learn more about your micro-business lending options!

Kevin Kelly serving as a judge during EWI’s Spring 2012 Entrepreneur Training for Success business plan pitch

Who should attend the conference? Micro lenders; small business support organizations; community and economic development agencies; non profit organizations; and state and local officials. The registration fee of $65 will be paid to the event partners. View the agenda here.

To register, follow this link!

Velma Crawford – Featured EWI Entrepreneur at the Micro-Business Lending Conference!

You may have heard her story before; in fact it’s tucked into every one of Velma’s aprons. With Velma, when you buy an apron you don’t simply receive an apron but the creator’s narrative as well. In “The Ties That Bind” Velma allows us to accompany her on a journey through her learning experiences with her grandmother, the poor daughter of an ex-slave who taught Velma the skills she uses to create her aprons, and her personal illness which was the catalyst to her apron creating.

This past Fall Velma took on another role alongside entrepreneur, and it was mentor. Velma joined EWI’s dedicated mentoring team and worked with two students in our Fall ETS course. Velma was able to share her own entrepreneurial spirit, lessons, and successes with her mentees who were excited to start a business of their own.

At the Micro-Business Lending: Landscape for the New Economy conference, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, VA on February 26th, you’ll also have the chance to learn about Velma’s passion and experiences as a businesswoman and how she has grown and flourished since the creation of Vee’s Ties that Bind.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet our dedicated graduate and EWI member, Velma Crawford, at the Micro-Business Lending conference, and be sure to register now!

Anyone interested to learn more about micro-business lending should attend, including representatives of micro lenders; small business support organizations; community and economic development and other public agencies; state and local officials.

Please click this link to learn more about the conference and register to attend. We hope to see you there!

This event is the result of a planning partnership with the Virginia Microenterprise Network, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Empowered Women International, Virginia Community Capital and On Point Services.