The mission of Women's Initiative is to build the entrepreneurial capacity of women to overcome economic and social barriers and achieve self-sufficiency.

Description:
Women's Initiative has proven that women create jobs for themselves and others, access the mainstream economy, and increase their eceonomic self-sufficiency when they are given business planning and financing support. By assisting womomen-owned businesses throughout the Bay Area at our 3 training sites, Women's Initiative directly contributes to the economic growth of communities. Through an intensive 20 session program in both English and Spanish, the clients of Women's Initiative are enabled to start (or expand) their own business. Women's Initiative tracks outcomes. Within 18 months of completing the program, the average and median income of our graduates has increased by 85%. In recent years, Women's Initiative graduates have started or expanded over 1,300 businesses. The effectiveness of our program in reducing poverty is equally significant with the poverty level. Outcome studies show that before participating in our programs, 80% of the women are living within reach of poverty. After graduation, this percentage drops to 35%.
Women's Initiative provides clients with up to 60 hours of quality class-room training, plus individualized additional services including consulting, loans, seminars and coaching. 100% of our clients are low-income; 78% are women of color; 46% speak Spanish as their primary language; 29% are single parents; and 15% have a disability.
Women's Initiative is dependant on volunteers to augment the talents of their small full time staff.

History:
Women's Initiative has been assisting high-potential, low-income women achieve financial independence since 1988. It is currently the largest microenterprise agency serving more clients than any other training led program in the US (per FIELD). There are 3 offices, 1 in San Francisco and 2 in Oakland, with plans to expand to other parts of the Bay Area.

Contact people:

Elizabeth Russell, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Adrian Smith, Executive Assistant, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (510) 451-3428

Address:

519 17th Street Oakland, CA 94612 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.womensinitiative.org

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: BART 17th Street,   Walk distance (in minutes): 3