WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

(WEEP)

Kristen Jordan – Diplomat Fellow

Background

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of

Business Owners women account for 28.7 percent of

all business nationwide

• One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is

woman-owned (U.S. Census Bureau)

• In Michigan roughly 70 percent of businesses are

owned by men (U.S. Census Bureau)

Non-Women

Women

Women-Owned Business (MWOBs)

91.3%

8.7%

Goals for Program• Provide women with the

resources to start their own business or acquire new skills through education

• Motivate women towards social entrepreneurship

• Empowering women to improve their community

• Women walk out with a new sense of self and are empowered to be more ambitious and successful

Meeting Topics• Business plan • Women business setting etiquette• Social entrepreneurship • Career planning• Start-Up/Small business tax preparation• Resume Building • Problem Resolution

Objectives

• Empower women to start their own businesses

• Open participants eyes to inner city opportunities for skill

growth

• Inspire others to strive for community improvement in the

city of Flint

Methods• Research• Meetings• Business Lectures• Introduction to new opportunities• Empowerment through education• Resume building workshop• Social media etiquette• Networking and mentor relationships

Meetings:

Where: YWCA downtown Flint

When: July 20th, 22nd, and 27th from 1:00-3:00pm

Veronika Scott - The Empowerment Plan

Solved Urban Problem

Employed Homeless Problem

Look at Entrepreneurship in a different lens

Pashon Murray - Detroit Dirt

Compost Reduce Detroit’s Environmental Footprint Self Sufficiency

Participants• YWCA’s SafeHouse Women

• What is SafeHouse? • A 31-bed unit facility that provides 30 days or more of safe

emergency shelter and supportive services to homeless survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Speakers

Dale Tuttle – Entrepreneurship 101

Dale Tuttle• Current Director of the Michigan Center for

Entrepreneurial Leadership• Adjunct Lecturer of Management for the

School of Management, University of Michigan – Flint. 

Cathy Miller – Small Business Financial and Tax Preparation

• Cathy Miller: serves on the the University of Michigan – Flint Chancellor Advisory Committee for Budget and Strategic Planning.

Adrian Montague – Flint Soup

Adrian Montague • Founder and executive Director of

Flint SOUP. • Flint SOUP raises seed money for

projects in Flint, Michigan. • Adrian currently sits as a Senior

Consultant at the Flint Area Reinvestment Office.

Rushika Patel – Career Planning • Dr. Patel: joined the University of

Michigan-Flint campus in 2013 as Director of the Women’s Educational Center. 

Brian Blume – Conflict Management

• Brian Blume: University of Michigan – Flint School of Management.

• His research focuses on the transfer of training, forced distribution performance management systems, organizational citizenship behaviors, and characteristics of entrepreneurs that are associated with new ventures. 

Issue

Relationship(High importance)(Low importance)

(High importance)

Withdrawal

Compromise

Accommodate (Give In)

Force Collaborate/Negotiate

Antonio Riggs – Resume Workshop

• Antonio Riggs: joined the University of Michigan – Flint in January 2014.

• He serves as the Student Services Coordinator for the School of Management.

• With over eight years of experience working in higher education, the majority of his experience is in Student Affairs/Student Educational Services. 

Jennifer Wenzlick – Business Etiquette

• Sean Tabor and Jennifer Wenzlick: have been working together to make the Ground Floor market a success.

• The Ground Floor market is located in the Dryden Building. The business has been expanding their staff and just hired one new employee.

The Process

Location Speakers

Number of meetings Participants

Mission

A cornerstone for women breaking down both Flint’s barriers and gender barriers through community service and entrepreneurship.

Carriage Town Ministries – Women Empowerment • Pampering• Money • Management• Giveaways• Fashion show • Crafts• More

GIVEAWAYS:

WEEP Feedback:

Program’s Weaknesses:• Fewer meeting dates• More food

Program’s Strengths:• Gave participants the chance to voice questions

and comments• Easy and relaxed environment• The giveaways• Variety of speakers and topics• Great handouts

The Fellowship:

Volunteering:

Valuable Network

New Experiences = New Perspective:

Fellowship and WEEP• Sharing knowledge• Sharing a network• Sharing new opportunities

Questions?

Thank you.

References• For Immediate Release: Poverty Rates for Women (2015, April 07). Retrieved June

29, 2015, Available from http://womensfundsema.org/wordpress/for-immediate-release-poverty-rates-for-women-in-southcoast-cities-are-double-ma-rate-despite-educational-gains-in-the-past-25-years-women-in-massachusetts-still-face-higher-rates-of-poverty-than/

• Gender Business Ownership Graph [internet]. Diversity and Inclusion at the FDIC. 2013 April 2 - [cited 29 June 2015]. Available from: https://www.fdic.gov/about/diversity/2012_omwi_rpt.html>.

• Home - YWCA Greater Flint. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2015, Available from: http://www.ywcaflint.org/site/pp.asp?c=8eLDJKMyD&b=61603

• U. (2015, May 29). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2015, Available from: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/26/2629000.htm

• Women-Owned Businesses | National Women's Business Council. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2015, Available from: https://www.nwbc.gov/facts/women-owned-businesses