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WOMENS INITIATIVE FOR SELF EMPLOYMENT
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April 5, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
I always look for leverage. Women's Initiative really beats everything else. Just in Silicon Valley, we were part of starting 400 successful business last year. These businesses pulled women out of poverty, gave their children a role model, supported the community with new well-paying jobs and financial activity. Nothing wrong with giving a hungry man a fish - but we are teaching women how to build their own fishing enterprise. To top it off, the staf and volunteers are competent and compassionate.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 5, 2012
I became involved with Women's Initiative 15 years ago because I believed in their mission of helping low-income women escape poverty by becoming their own employer. I've stayed involved because the program works and I see the evidence every time I meet a graduate. If you want to give back to your local community, see low income women succeed in escaping poverty and help their children and families build social capital that will last for generations, Women's Initiative is the organization to support. Men welcome too!
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 5, 2012
Women's Initiative is an ideal model for sustainable job creation in a local community. It does not offer charity, it offers opportunity based on hard work and education.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 4, 2012
The Women's Initiative is one of the most powerful organization in the local Silicon Valley. Why? Because it it so needed. Because it impacts the lives of others. Because, it makes a difference. This organization is affecting people of lesser social economic status and really creating social change. Now that's really important in this day and age. I attended my first event/gala while I was a Sr. Sales Executive at Hewlett-Packard. I was extremely moved by what had taken place. A room full of five-hundred professional people, all making their mark and contribution to this particular organization. But more importantly, I met the small business owners and entrepreneurs that were able to use the tools that they rec'd (classes, coaching) to greatly impact their circumstance. And along the way they created jobs for others. Now that's pretty powerful. I highly recommend joining the cause. Warm regards, Natalina Gonzalez
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 4, 2012
The Women's Iinitiative plays a vital role in providing amazing entrepreneurial assistance to women that help them with economic and social issues that addresses and helps women achieve self-sufficiency. It has been a privledge and an honor to have designed programs specifically to support women who have the initiative and the desire to start or to expand their businesses and to help overcome the lack of capital availability which has been a primary factor in preventing their success.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
May 28, 2010
In addition to providing business training and professional develop to clients, Women's Initiative for Self-Employment also empowers women leaders through a 10 week fellowship (this is open to both men and women). As a fellow, I participated in round table discussions with the CEO, received weekly trainings on micro-enterprise and non-profit management, interacted with clients during networking events, and collaborated on projects in a variety of departments. This was an incredible learning experience for me, as I was surrounded by their strong staff. At the end of my fellowship, I interviewed and wrote "Success Stories" on several local clients. Hearing first-hand accounts of ways Women's Initiative for Self-Employment helped them overcome personal and financial obstacles made clear to me the powerful tools gained through this program.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Oakland, where I live and shop. Many of the stores I frequent are owned or employed by graduates of this program!
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
May 26, 2010
Women's Initiative generates jobs, businesses, and higher incomes for bay area women, fosters entrepreneurship, builds community, increases self-esteem and promotes self-sufficiency. I worked with the Latina graduates of the 11-week business training program and saw the businesses they have started and maintained as a result. Women's Initiative clients tell me they could not have known how to write a business plan if it weren't for the training they received, and they could not have accessed financing if it weren't for Women's Initiative's loan and IDA programs.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
San Francisco and in Oakland, I've patronized the businesses owned and operated by Women's Initiative clients.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
learning about local microenterprise development and microlending.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
helpful, dedicated, and transparent.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
provide its business training in languages other than Spanish and English, expand to serve many more low-income women in other areas of the country, provide additional computer training.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
May 25, 2010
What brought me to Women's Initiative was reading the Client Success Stories. The women who graduate from the course that is offered at Women's Initiative and start their own businesses are inspiring. In addition to the powerful stories and testimonials of our clients, our research team documents and studies the measurable outcomes of our program. This helps us to advocate for women entrepreneurs on the issues that affect them. We also provide business support after graduating, through SuccessLink, which offers resources and connections to help their businesses to thrive.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have visited businesses that were started after graduating from the Simple Steps program at Women's Initiative. I have read many inspiring Client Success Stories. I have been to a Graduation of a Simple Steps course.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
May 19, 2010
The results that Womens initiative delivers are often clearly seen in the form of successful businesses, more local jobs, and a better standard of living for the women; while income is increased the vast majority of the time, it's the confidence and empowerment that really makes life better for these women. As a Fellow I conducted a number of interviews with graduates of the business education program, some who went on to start businesses and some who didn't but the common thread was that all learned a better way of life exists and that getting it is not as difficult as originally thought. WISE is also a microlending institution; I was a part of this group and saw first-hand that they treated the women with the utmost fairness and respect.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Women's empowerment, financially as well as many other walks of life. Business success. Continued mentorship and learning opportunities.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Knowing that I am working to bring about something so important, women's empowerment, but also seeing results. WISE keeps myriad statistics and their results are proven.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Helpful, respectful, genuinely kind-hearted, and eager to make to difference.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Expand operations and help thousands more women.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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