Fireside Chat with African American Small Businesses and Representatives from SBA, LA City, LA County, NAACP
~ Celebrating Black History Month ~
Join us for an in-person event on February 1, 2023 from 11am to 2pm
7500 Alabama Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303
LOS ANGELES, CA (January 30, 2023) – New Economics for Women – Women’s Business Center (NEW-WBC) is excited and honored to host a luncheon called “Empowering Black Owned Businesses” in celebration of Black History Month. Join us Wednesday February 1 from 11am to 2pm at our Women’s Business Center on 7500 Alabama Avenue, Canoga Park, CA 91303. The event kicks off with opening remarks by Dr. James Thomas of NAACP. In addition to booth exhibition and lunch, we also have 2 engaging panel discussions with our partners from the financial industry and representatives from the SBA, LA City, and LA County focused on the topics of capital access and government contracts that underserved entrepreneurs would especially not want to miss (agenda below).
Network with successful African American women entrepreneurs and other underserved small business owners who will showcase their products and services. Meet our client, Lisa Berry, Founder and CEO of Blended Berries Tea and native of South Los Angeles who beat the odds as the first in her family to attend college and start her own business. Juggling her roles as a single mother to a toddler and managing her organic tea business spreading more ‘positivitea’ to the world, she may not have been able to participate at our event if not for the generosity of Mr. Dante Hamilton, CEO of IWN Haus, a certified DBE, MBE and BEP business in Chicago, who has generously donated funds to pay for her booth and event materials in an effort to alleviate any financial and time burden on her.
Ruth Garcia-Corrales, Director of NEW Women’s Business Center says, “These are the moments that inspire me to go on. As a small business owner, Lisa mentioned not always having funds to market her business, but because of Dante’s altruistic kindness, she will have visibility at our luncheon.”
Quentin Strode, President and CEO of NEW Community Investments (NCI) and Chief Operating Officer for NEW WBC adds, “My sincerest appreciation to Dante for helping one of our underserved clients and am humbled to know that our network of supporters span nationally. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our esteemed bank, financial, and government partners whose generosity as event partner, booth exhibitor, and panelist are helping to make this a very special event for all of us. Thank you for your time, knowledge, and mentorship that will further support our African American and other underrepresented women, and women of color and underserved small businesses.”
In anticipation of this special event, some of our African American small business owners and panelists recorded their perspective and importance of Black History Month, and of finding opportunities and funding new growth for financial freedom. Don’t miss these engaging videos on neweconomicsforwomen.org/news.
Registration is needed to attend the event. To RSVP, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-black-history-month-empowering-black-owned-small-businesses-tickets-484529068487.
Agenda
11am: Market Place Opens | Lunch | Video, African American Entrepreneurs through History
12:25pm: Opening Remarks
- Ruth Garcia-Corrales, Director, NEW-WBC
- Dr. James Thomas, President, San Fernando Valley NAACP
- Quentin Strode, President and CEO, NEW Community Investments
12:35pm: Business Certifications for Government Contracts Panel
- Larry Hammond, Moderator
- Leila Lee, City of Los Angeles
- Shenell Glover, Entrepreneur
- Shannon Hoppes, Chief Procurement Officer at City of LA
- Enrique Gonzalez, LA County Office of Small Business
1:00pm: Financial Panel
- Ric Saenz, Moderator
- Paula Bahamon, Mission Valley Bank
- Iman Cotton, CDC Small Business Finance
- Lisa Stevens, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Kim Stotzer, Kiva Crowdlending and Impresario Crowdfunding
- Jennifer Navarrete, Wells Fargo Bank
- Kenneth Crawford, SBA Micro Loans
About New Economics for Women (NEW):
New Economics for Women (NEW) sparks economic mobility for women, particularly for Latinas and their families, through wealth creation, housing, education, entrepreneurship, and advocacy for economic justice. We empower generations of women and families to thrive. For more information, call (213) 483-2060 or visit neweconomicsforwomen.org.
About NEW Women’s Business Center (NEW-WBC):
NEW-WBC is an initiative of the New Economics for Women (NEW), in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Go-Biz California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, with the objective of helping women entrepreneurs and business owners plan, create, and grow businesses successfully. Visit new-wbc.org.
NEW Community Investments (NCI):
Powered by New Economics for Women, NCI’s mission is to build economic development and financial sustainability among women and minority entrepreneurs in underserved communities. We concentrate on capacity building, access to resources, and closing the funding disparities that persist amongst underserved communities, especially women of color. Visit new-nci.com.
