Microfinance

2014 San Diego Microfinance Summit

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Expanding Horizons of Microfinance

The 6th Annual San Diego Microfinance Summit will be held Tuesday, April 8th at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice. Come learn new microfinance concepts, converse with like minded people, and participate in supporting local microfinance clients.

The 2014 San Diego Microfinance Summit will bring together leading microfinance practitioners, social entrepreneurs, students and members of the general public to explore the expanding horizons of the microfinance industry. Larry Reed, the Director of the Microcredit Summit Campaign, will be the keynote speaker. The event will also highlight speakers from innovative organizations such as Kiva, GiveDirectly, Edify and Puddle. Panels and presentations throughout the day will center on discussions about new ways to expand the reach and impact of microfinance by bringing vital financing to under-served markets. At the end of the day we will host a tremendous networking mixer with a million dollar view.

Register Now

 

Pre-Summit Networking Mixer
Ritual Tavern (a microfinance-funded establishment)
Monday, April 7th; 6:00 - 8:00pm
Cost: $12, including appetizers and one drink
www.ritualtavern.com

San Diego Microfinance Summit
University of San Diego
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
Tuesday, April 8th; 9:00am - 5:00pm

Summit Tickets*:
General: $50.00
Student: $25.00 (for current students with a valid student identification)

*Ticket price includes breakfast, lunch and reception, as well as a free voucher worth $10 to be applied to any purchase in the Artisan Client Marketplace. You’re encouraged to shop and support the vendors (no cash back value).

2014 San Diego Microfinance Summit Agenda

8:15 – 9:00 am Registration, Breakfast & Networking

9:00 – 9:30 am Welcome - USD Director Stephen Conroy, Dean Paula Cordeiro

9:30 –10:15 am Keynote Speaker - Larry Reed

10:15 – 10:25 am Break

10:25 – 11:30 am Plenary Session - Innovations In Finance
Jonny Price, Kiva; Jean Claude Rodriguez, Puddle; Paul Niehaus, GiveDirectly; Moderator: Craig McIntosh (UCSD)

11:30 – 11:45 am Microfinance CLIENT Success Story: Angela Maweu

11:45 –1:00 pm Lunch and Marketplace

1:00 – 2:00 pm Breakout Sessions- Concurrent
1) The Changing Horizon of Local Micro Lending: Impact, Innovation and Advocacy
2) Emerging Models: Returning to Traditional Ways of Saving and Sharing

2:10 – 3:10 pm Plenary Session: Education & Microfinance
Larry Reed, Microcredit Summit Campaign; Chris Crane, Edify; Moderator: Paula Cordeiro, USD

3:10 – 4:30 pm Networking Reception

Keynote Speaker - Larry Reed is the director of the Microcredit Summit Campaign. He has worked for more than 25 years in designing, supporting and leading activities and organizations that empower poor people to transform their lives and their communities. For most of that time Larry worked with Opportunity International, including five years as their Africa regional director and eight years as the first CEO of the Opportunity International Network. During his time with Opportunity, Larry helped to implement a strategy for developing full-service banks that served the very poor while mobilizing hundreds of millions of dollars in savings deposits and investments. Under his leadership, Opportunity developed the first micro-insurance brokerage, which now serves hundreds of millions of people around the world. Larry has taught at the Boulder Institute of Microfinance for 15 years, served as the chair of the SEEP Network, and consulted with industry-wide initiatives like the Smart Campaign for Client Protection and MicroFinance Transparency. Larry authored the State of the Microcredit Summit Campaign Report in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and has contributed to several books on finance and the poor including The New World of Microfinance (Rhyne, Otero, et. al., 1996), Serving with the Poor in Africa (Yamamori, Myers, Bediako and Reed, 1996), Globalization and the Kingdom of God (Goudzwaard, 2001), and More Pathways Out of Poverty (Harris et. al., 2006). He is a graduate of Wheaton College and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Moderators
University of San Diego - Paula Cordeiro grew up in New England and is a former teacher, principal and school head in international, bilingual schools in Venezuela and Spain. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Rhode Island College and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston. Paula is currently a professor and dean of the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) at the University of San Diego. In 2007 Paula was appointed to the board of The James Irvine Foundation in San Francisco and also serves on the boards of San Diego Grantmakers, the international micro-lender Edify, and the Boston-based nonprofit Community Technical Assistance Center (CTAC). She is the author of three books and in 2012 completed, with co-author Bill Cunningham, the 5th edition of her textbook Educational Leadership: A Bridge to Improved Practice. Her research interests are in school leadership and education in developing nations.

UC San Diego - Craig McIntosh is a Professor of Economics at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, UC San Diego. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in agriculture and resource economics. He is a development economist whose work focuses on program evaluation. His main research interest is the design of institutions, which promote the provision of financial services to micro-entrepreneurs. He has conducted field evaluations of innovative anti-poverty policies in Mexico, Guatemala, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. He is currently working on research projects investigating how to boost savings among the poor, on whether schooling can be used as a tool to fight HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, and on mechanisms to improve the long-term viability of Fair Trade markets.

Morning Plenary Session

Kiva - Jonny Price first came to Kiva in 2009 as a volunteer on a 5-month externship from his management consulting firm Oliver Wyman. After 6 years at Oliver Wyman, first in London and then in San Francisco, he joined Kiva full-time in September 2011, to lead the Kiva Zip pilot project. Jonny is married to Ali, who he met at Kiva, and occasionally you may glimpse them cycling their tandem to work. He graduated with a BA in History from the University of Cambridge.

GiveDirectly - Paul Niehaus is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at UC San Diego as well as a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a Junior Affiliate at the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD), an Affiliate of the Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), and an Affiliate at the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA). His research deals with program implementation in developing countries and with learning. He is also co-founder and president of the nonprofit GiveDirectly. In 2013 Foreign Policy named him one of its leading 100 “Global Thinkers.”

Puddle - Jean Claude Rodriguez is a co-founder of Puddle with Matt Flannery, CEO of Kiva. Puddle is an online platform that gives individuals instant access to a line of credit and a platform where money is lent and borrowed freely among members. Before moving to San Francisco, he implemented Puddle offline in more than 10 countries. He is an Ashoka fellow and was selected Best Creative Entrepreneur of the World in 2008. He holds a Ph.D. in Microfinance.

 

Afternoon Session (1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

The Changing Horizon of Local Micro Lending: Impact, Innovation and Advocacy (Conference Room C)

Practitioners in the evolving field of micro lending are continually challenged to develop innovative solutions to address the need for access to capital and business education. The nature of these solutions can vary but the goal is always the same: creating lasting impact for underserved entrepreneurs. In this session, microfinance practitioners will discuss how their micro lending programs have evolved to meet the needs of the local market in four tangible ways including: policy advocacy for systemic changes to benefit small businesses, expansion of traditional underwriting processes to include character and commitment to business training, impact analysis via measurements of household and business income, and collaborative approaches to delivering business assistance to entrepreneurs.

Panelists
Valery Belloso, ACCION San Diego, Business Development Officer
Kaitlan Hammock, Microenterprise Program Manager, International Rescue Committee,
Susan Lamping, Vice President of Community Lending, CDC Small Business Finance
Sandra Martinez, Program Manager, Foundation for Women

 

Emerging models: Returning to traditional Ways of Saving and Sharing (Conference Room D)

In recent years new models designed around savings are appearing in the world of micro-finance. In a way this is a return to traditional models used by villages. Many communities are hesitant to enter into debt outside of their community relationships or do not have a third party linking them to sources of capital. Some communities, due to cultural traditions, do not believe in debt as a development vehicle. In this panel discussion we will explore the history of this movement and hear from organizations exploring these new methodologies.

Panelists
Jean Fort, Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Women’s Empowerment
Anna Lu, Founder, EPTEAM Network @ UCSD; San Diego Microfinance Puddle
Neils Lund, Executive Director, Microloans for Mothers
Jean Claude Rodriguez, Co-Founder, Puddle

Panel Moderator: Elisa Sabatini, Executive Director, Via International

Afternoon Plenary Session (2:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m.)

Edify- Chris Crane is President & CEO of Edify, a humanitarian organization he founded in September 2009 to make loans to Christian schools educating impoverished children in Africa and Latin America. Chris Crane served from 2002-2009 as President & CEO of Opportunity International Inc., the world’s largest faith-based microfinance organization. During Chris’ tenure, Opportunity’s revenues grew at a compounded annual rate of 30%. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in Finance from Boston College. He studied economics, art appreciation and music appreciation for two years at the University of Vienna, Austria. In 1999 he was awarded the Ernst & Young/USA Today Entrepreneur of the Year Award in San Diego and in 2009 the Bob Buford Half/Time Achievement Award. He was a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) from 1990 to 2002. He has been married to Jane for 30 years, and they have one son, Andy.

Microcredit Summit Campaign - Larry Reed (see Biography above)

 

To learn more about previous San Diego Microfinance Summits you can Click Here.

If you are not familiar with The San Diego Microfinance Alliance (SDMFA) - This 20 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY paints a picture of microfinance in San Diego and how The SDMFA is collaborating to create greater opportunities for entrepreneurs, students and those interested in engaging in microfinance.

 



2012 Microfinance Summit Date Announced!!!

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The date for the 2012 San Diego Microfinance Summit event has officially been announced!! The event will be held Wednesday, April 4th at the University of San Diego. Please update your calendars, and continue to check here for more updates in the coming months!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Microfinance Investment Transparency & Evaluation Webinar

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Now more than ever, in the microfinance industry, transparency and objective evaluation is needed to rise above criticism and offer stakeholders a realistic perspective on the risk and returns related to microfinance investment. Chuck Waterfield, founder of MFTransparency, and Sebastian von Stauffenberg, CEO of MicroRate, will host a webinar focusing specifically on the role of investors in helping to facilitate transparent pricing and on how investors can benefit from a market where MFI pricing is transparent.

The webinar will take place on July 20th from 4:00 - 5:30p.m. If you are interested in participating in the webinar, please click here to register or to attain further information about the webinar and its presenters.

About Chuck Waterfield

Chuck Waterfield founded MFTransparency in 2008 in order to facilitate transparent financial pricing among MFIs all over the world. Chuck will focus on the role of investors in helping to facilitate transparent pricing and on how investors can benefit from a market where MFI pricing is transparent. Chuck will also speak about the role of transparent pricing in responsible investment.

About Sebastian von Stauffenberg
n 1997, MicroRate was founded as the first rating agency to specialize in microfinance. It’s goal is to increase transparency as a means of facilitating an increase of informed investment into microfinance. MicroR

ate evaluates areas such as governance, portfolio quality, management and operations, financial and social performance in both microfinance institutions as well as microfinance investment vehicles. MicroRate evaluations help investors measure risks and returns on their investments in microfinance. Sebastian von Stauffenberg, CEO of MicroRate and former General Manager of its Latin American operations will speak about the landscape of microfinance evaluation, addressing trends and as well as other observations from his participation in industry initiatives such as the Smart Campaign certification committee and Social Performance Taskforce.

 

 

Success Story from Foundation for Women

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Meet Foundation for Women (FFW) microcredit borrower, Malou Gibson, who is now on her second FFW loan cycle with the Foundation for Women. Malou is a Holistic Health Care Practitioner who worked for various spas in San Diego by day and did computer work for hospitals at night, sneaking in a few hours of sleep here and there when she could. Malou emerged as a leader of the Spring Valley Microcredit Center early on, and was selected as a facilitator for the Foundation’s partnership with Cisco Entrepreneurial Institute, where she leads on-line computer literacy and business training classes. Currently on her second microcredit loan, Malou just opened the doors to her very own Spring Valley Health and Wellness Center called La Dolce Vita, where she will not only employ several other borrowers, but sell the merchandise of many more. According to Malou, “the microcredit loans and education I’ve received from the Foundation for Women gave me the chance to get back on my feet. I never imagined that I would someday be able to achieve my dream of owning my own business. I’m so happy to be able to help other women at the same time.”

Please visit La Dolce Vita, the Wellness Center at:

1445 Skyline Drive, Lemon Grove CA 91945

(858) 523-8064

La Dolce Vita

For more information about the Foundation for Women visit THEIR WEBSITE

Edited by Justine Darling, USD Graduate Student

Think Globally, Act Locally

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As we begin the New Year, I’d like to take a moment to reflect. When we think about all that The San Diego Microfinance Alliance and its partners have done throughout 2010 it is amazing. When we think about how much more there is to do, it can be both exciting and overwhelming. For those of us that may feel overwhelm during times of transition while we are trying to imagine the future, I would like to remind us of an important quote from one of the best examples of transformational leadership and service.

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” – Mother Teresa

I believe the wisdom from Mother Teresa’s quote is most strongly felt within our hearts. When we begin careers or get involved in service it is likely that we believe, doing our best is good enough. Unfortunately, in many cases shortly after our initial enthusiasm, we come face to face with the needs of the community that are beyond our ability. This realization can be both a blessing and a curse. I would contend that the difference in its impact comes from within our own mindset and attitude.

Realizing that the needs of the communities we serve are beyond our abilities can be a curse if we do not develop sufficient faith in ourselves. The realization can be a curse if we feel we have already failed. It can be a curse if it causes us to doubt our efforts and become immobilized. However, realizing the community we serve needs more than we can offer can also be seen as a blessing.

Realizing the needs of the community are beyond our current ability is a blessing because it calls us to look beyond ourselves. This process helps us to maintain perspective and learn humility. This process reminds us that our efforts are less about being everything to everyone and more about becoming something to someone. Progress and innovation are the result of the need to develop beyond current capacity. Teamwork and community involvement build relationships that may otherwise fail to develop.

The San Diego Microfinance Alliance and its partners are a wonderful example of this reality. One can imagine that the small group of people that came together to form the alliance realized that they needed more help to serve more people. We can all see the progress, innovation, teamwork, and community involvement that the alliance has created within the San Diego community. The alliance currently has 13 partners committed to perpetuating and sharing the benefits of microfinance. May our work together continue to challenge us to reach new levels of service, education and community development!

Until next time, take care!

Written by Daniel Valcazar II, USD student

Big News for Small Business

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In a recent press release, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the introduction of a free guidebook for small business owners. This guidebook is the result of collaboration between SBA and Microsoft. The guidebook is called Business Technology Simplified and it was created with the intent of helping small business owners navigate the already complex process of starting a business with the assistance of technology.

This guidebook presents a significant contribution to the microfinance community for multiple reasons. Firstly, the guidebook is free, which is a great start. Secondly, the guidebook is available in multiple formats so individuals can select the format they find most effective. Lastly, the guidebook addresses an obstacle that remains difficult to overcome, particularly for microfinance clients, harnessing the power of technology.

Karen Mills, a SBA Administrator said, “Our goal as an agency is to get information, tools and services into the hands of small business owners more quickly so they can spend more time doing what they do best – creating the jobs that will drive our economic recovery. This new guidebook is one more tool available to support small business growth through access to information and resources.”

The following is taken directly from the SBA press release:

Business Technology Simplified is available in a printed format in SBA district offices and local SBA resource partners, or may be accessed online as an electronic publication and as an electronic distance learning course. The new online course has been created for self-paced access to practical guidance on applying technology to build and grow strong companies.

The Business Technology Simplified online course allows quick access by small business owners to learn more about basic technology tools that can help their companies run more efficiently. The course features an audio guided lesson indexed by modules that includes information on how to use technology to save time in day-to-day tasks, how to better manage a business, mobile solutions that work, and tips on expanding customer base.

To access the course, go to www.sba.gov/training, then click Business Technology Simplified in the Highlighted Courses section. It is one of nearly 30 online tutorials offered by the SBA, and is available 24/7.

Lastly, if you would prefer a copy to download you can visit Microsoft’s website at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=cb22851d-8195-4a46-b30c-9a57bcff0440. Good luck with this new and important tool!

Until next time, take care!

Written by Daniel Valcazar II, USD Student

Microfinance at USD’s Alternative Gift Fair

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Each year around Thanksgiving we begin to hear Christmas music on the radio and see holiday decorations at the mall. This time of year generally corresponds to large discounts and preparing gift lists for those special people in our lives. However, what do we get for someone that seems to have it all? What do we get those who don’t need new socks or already have an Xbox 360 Kinect? For members of the USD community, the Alternative Gift Fair is just the answer.

The Alternative Gift Fair is an event that supports local vendors and artisans. The event has been on campus for over 10 years. As a result, many people around campus look forward to this event and plan to buy gifts for the most difficult people on their list. The particularly exciting aspect of this year’s Alternative Gift Fair was the presence of such a large number of microfinance clients.

This year’s Alternative Gift Fair was the largest in history and included 25 separate vendors. However, the most exciting part of the story was that 11 of the 25 were involved in microfinance! The breakdown for microfinance participants was roughly five vendors from the Foundation for Women, three vendors from the International Rescue Committee, and three vendors from La Maestra.

When asked about his perspective on the event, USD Senior Lovel Tokic, said that he, “felt good about putting his money toward a good cause.” Lovel spent about $40 on various gifts for the women in his life. “It was a very good atmosphere. The people were friendly and committed to their crafts.” This sentiment seems to be consistent with the goals of the event.

Fortunately, I had a chance to check in with some of the vendors after the fair. Their responses were positive and seemed to reflect the success of their sales. There were multiple women I’d checked with that made over $200 during the event and at least one woman made over $800! Needless to say, many of them hope to return next year.

If you’re still in need of some creative and unique gifts for the holidays, many of the vendors that participated in the Alternative Gift Fair also showcase their goods at other local events. Whether you’re looking specifically for holidays or just considering future gift ideas, check out the local events section of our website. There you can find various opportunities to see the crafts and jewelry you may have missed this past week, and many more from vendors that were not able to attend.

Until next time, take care!

Written by USD student, Daniel Valcazar II

Microfinance Means More than Mini Money Management

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When we hear the word “microfinance”, support and encouragement may not be the first words that come to mind. However, with the growth in awareness of microfinance initiatives these words are likely to follow shortly after one’s initial thoughts. To further illustrate the relationship between microfinance and the support & encouragement it produces, I’d like to introduce Maria Muñoz and her business for our microfinance spotlight.

Maria Muñoz’s business is Mari’s Lingerie. She is an independent distributor of Lipoarmonia products, which are lingerie/undergarments for women and men to assist in shaping their figure. She started this business in 2009 and is also currently working to receive certification as a Natural Health Consultant this year.

She was originally a nurse in Mexico but spent much of her time raising her two children Albert and Peter, age 10 and 6. The story of support and encouragement began when she found out her younger son had autism. Naturally, she wanted to be home with him whenever he needed her. As a result, Maria did not want a normal full-time job. She realized that with Lipoarmonia she could help others with their body image and earn an income with a flexible schedule. In addition, once she obtains her certification as a Natural Health Consultant she can further serve people with healthy habits and education.

Maria participates in the microfinance group in Chula Vista that was highlighted in a previous blog post (See Building Friendships, Building Business 11/1/10). However, Maria may be unique because she has not received a microloan and doesn’t have plans to request one in the near future. “Why does she participate in the group?”, you ask. I wondered the same thing, so I asked. She said she’s received a great deal of support and encouragement from the group and that has been more than enough. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty powerful stuff.

Maria’s goal is to support her family and generate an income similar to that of a full-time job. She is confident she can achieve her goal because of her strong work ethic, communication skills and training experience. She continues to work on improving her English so she can serve more people. You might say she is paying it forward. I’d say she is a prime example of the deeper meaning and power of microfinance.

Contact Maria for help looking your best:
Maria Munoz
Phone: 619-778-8761
Email: [email protected]
Web: lipoarmonia.com
1166 Agua Tibia Ave
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Until next time, take care!

Written by Daniel Valcazar II, USD student

Shoulder to Shoulder

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Despite advances in technology, it remains difficult to support others from a distance. From a distance, it is easier to misunderstand the support others really need. From a distance, it is easier to minimize the severity of the situation in which others find themselves. From a distance, it is easier to get distracted with our own issues. I can only imagine this reality may have had an influence on Father Joseph Philippe, Fonkoze’s founder, when the name was selected for their microbank in Haiti.

Fonkoze, roughly translated, means “Shoulder to Shoulder” in Creole. As its name implies, this microbank has worked closely with the people of Haiti by “building the economic foundations for democracy in Haiti by providing the rural poor with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty.” Fortunately, great minds and hearts quickly connect to generate larger levels of success and support. This has led Fonkoze to develop a partnership with the Grameen Foundation, an important partner with the San Diego Microfinance Alliance.

While San Diego is far from being ”shoulder to shoulder” with Haiti, students from Point Loma Nazarene University and the University of San Diego participated in $2 Challenges to raise awareness and funds for those in Haiti earlier this year. Both of these schools have partnerships with the San Diego Microfinance Alliance and a desire to eliminate poverty through awareness and action. Both schools continue to develop microfinance clubs and events on their respective campuses.

A recent article in the New York Times highlights the importance of microfinance initiatives, particularly in Haiti. It demonstrates how microfinance can succeed where institutional lenders would fail. Microfinance initiatives may not yet have the same level of funds of traditional banking institutions, but they arguably make a larger impact upon the lives of people they serve.

Please check out the article from the New York Times here.

Please also take a moment to learn more about Fonkoze and their efforts in Haiti.

Until next time, take care!

Written by Daniel Valcazar II, USD student

Building Friendships, Building Business

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Each Tuesday morning a group of like minded women gather to celebrate the past week’s successes, learn from the past week’s setbacks and support each other as they build their businesses. There are many groups like this around San Diego and around the world. However, working with this group has given us a glimpse into the process of improving people’s lives through microfinance initiatives.

The group is organized to help the women involved improve their current situation. If this seems daunting then the results are overwhelming. If you wouldn’t mind, let me take a moment to detail the course of the meeting. There are generally 10-14 women from various backgrounds at each week’s meeting. At first glance, the meeting may seem unorganized but after the initial commotion the meeting progresses steadily. The leader of the group brings the group’s attention to the various topics to be covered and then once this is completed, invites the members to respond or ask questions. This portion of the meeting provides for a unique sharing of best practices and support. Generally, after this portion is completed the members of the group are invited to formally introduce themselves and their business. During this process many of the women share a critical point from their previous week, whether positive or negative. As anyone can expect, their ability to present themselves and their business improves with each meeting. Shortly following this exchange, the leaders will close the meeting and the women will continue talking and sharing where they left off before the meeting.

What is it about the meeting that is so special, you ask? I would argue it is the level of sincere care and support that each of the women experience with each other. The meetings are an avenue for learning new skills but I believe, more importantly, they are also a place to be uplifted. The women often share that the meeting is something they look forward to throughout the week and that they come into the meeting feeling overwhelmed and come out feeling better. It is through this process that each of the women grows in her own personal confidence and self-sufficiency, thereby allowing each of them to contribute to their community and ultimately to society as a whole.

If you’re interested in supporting these women they are now holding a weekly showcase for their various goods and services. These will be held each Wednesday evening from 5pm-7:30pm. The location is the YES! Transition Network storefront within the Chula Vista mall.

Until next time, take care!

Written by Daniel Valcazar II, USD student