Viva Las Micro-Empresas! Developing Latino Microentrepreneurs
October 16-17, 2007
San Diego, CA
Latinos are starting small businesses faster than any other group in California. To help our members assist the successful start up and growth of Latino entrepreneurs, CAMEO has teamed up with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) to offer the Regional Training Institute Viva Las Micro-Empresas!
Opportunity Recognition Strategies
September 25, 2007
Los Angeles, CA
Success in today’s rapidly changing business landscape requires small business and the organizations that support small business growth to refine their ability to recognize opportunity and develop strategies for seizing that opportunity. “ Dr. Osborne will share the necessary skill sets and factors to be considered in assessing and acting upon profitable growth opportunities for your organization.
California Self Employment Tax Initiative (CA-SETI)
September 25, 2007
Los Angeles, CA
Filing the Schedule C is the single most important entry point for acknowledging and formalizing microbusinesses in the US, and it represents an opportunity to reach low and moderate income entrepreneurs who could benefit from business assistance, microloans, and in some cases from Earned Income Tax Credit. It can also function as an annual tool for helping new owners understand their business’ finances.
Leading Through Change and Transition Webinar
June 22, 2007
We all live and work in complex, dynamic environments in which the rate of change is constantly escalating. In these times of swirling change, one of the key challenges for us as leaders is how to successfully manage ourselves and others so that we remain healthy and able to fully contribute to our organizations' achieving their mission. This highly interactive session is designed to help participants meet this challenge.
Think Bigger, Work Smarter! Restructuring Your Microenterprise Program Webinar
March 19, 2007
Going it alone and liking it less? Challenged to scale up and feeling resource-constrained? This webinar will explore strategies for scale up that are based on restructuring institutional relations—from strategic alliances to co-branding and outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions. Elaine Edgcomb and Joyce Klein, authors of Opening Opportunities, Building Ownership: Fulfilling the Promise of Microenterprise in the United States will present the case for strategic restructuring, review case examples and lessons learned, and offer you an opportunity to assess your readiness for strategic restructuring.
Executive Leadership Program for Microenterprise Practitioners San Francisco, CA
October 23-24, 2006
Designed for Executive Directors, Board and Managers of Microenterprise
Development Programs, this two-day retreat will kick off a program devoted to
the leadership development goals of microenterprise professionals.
From Earned Income to Social Enterprise: Creating a Social Venture for your Non-Profit Organization Web-based TeleWorkshop
Thursday, October 10, 2006
10:00am-11:30am PDT
As non-profits, we are all searching for new revenues while maintaining our values and commitment to our missions. One new opportunity that organizations are pursuing is Social Enterprises. Join REDF, a leader in the field of Social Enterprise, to learn what Social Enterprises are and why (or why not) they may be right for you. Using the example of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, gain an understanding of a working model and determine what your next steps would be to consider such an undertaking for your organization.
Integrating
Savings and Credit Oakland, CA July 20, 2006
CAMEO, in partnership with CFED and the Asset Policy Initiative of California (APIC), presented Integrating Savings and Credit. This one-day in-person training was designed for microenterprise and IDA practitioners. The training provided a system for evaluating the costs and benefits of integrating microenterprise and IDA services, solid product development and training tools, as well as lessons and best practices from experienced IDA and microenterprise programs.
The training and the trainer received high
marks from the participants. One noted, “I learned much
more than expected. The training was very helpful and presented
in a warm and participatory manner.” Many participants
commented that an important part of the training was the networking
and peer learning that took place during the break out sessions
and during the breaks.
A participant
describes the results from her group’s break out
session
to the rest of the audience.
Janice Trapp of Marin City
Community Development Corporation smiles while considering
how an IDA program could
complement her program.
The trainer discusses a question
that participant Megan O’Neil has
during a break out activity.
Successful marketing of your microenterprise
program yields happy clients, partners and funders. Public
relations, marketing materials and targeted communication
methods all play important roles in getting the word out.
What strategies work and what is a waste of time? Our experienced
practitioners shared what has worked for them with our audience,
who, in turn shared their own "lessons learned" during this
interactive, web-based teleworkshop.
This teleworkshop provided a quick overview of how to access
funding for microenterprise development within California
state agencies. CAMEO has been working with several state
agencies to streamline access of funding for microenterprise
development, including the Employment Training Panel’s Small
Business Program, Workforce Investment Board funds, entrepreneur
development funds from the Department of Rehabilitation and
rural microenterprise funding from the California Department
of Housing and Community Development.
In Microloan Program Basics, participants learned:
* Marketing your Microloan Program
* Client Screening and Loan Packaging
* Underwriting Policies
* Loan Documentation
* Collections Procedures
Trainers: Roberto Barragan, Angela Stanislawski, and Sergio
Gascon of Valley Economic Development Center
Angela Stanislawski of VEDC talks about best
practices in client screening.
Ruben Lucero of Citibank contributes to the
training by describing a bank's perspective on
microlending.
One participant remarked, “The thoroughness of presenters
and their experience, ability to answer specific questions
with specific examples were the major strengths of the training.”
Another said, “Learning from the best in the state,
and perhaps in the U.S. on microloans is very fortunate. Thanks
for sharing!”
Developing
Your Funding Strategy February 23, 2006
Online
Participants from all over the country participated in an
online teleworkshop on Developing Your Funding Strategy, on
February 23, 2006. Topics covered in the training included
how to analyze your current funding profile, and how to create
an ideal portfolio of dedicated funders and funding sources.
The trainer was Sheilah Rogers, former CEO of the West Company.
Under her leadership, West Company participated in the first
FIELD studies and MicroTest, operated a Women's Business Center
and a Small Business Development Center, and has been mentioned
in numerous industry publications as a model program.
One participant said of the workshop, “Terrific presentation;
good handouts and good worksheets for further analysis, etc.
Very applicable to building a true fundraising strategy (short
and long term) for my organization – I will put it to
use immediately. Again, many thanks.”
Executive
Leadership Program for Microenterprise Practitioners January 27, 2006
Oakland, CA
CAMEO held the final day-long meeting for the Executive Leadership
Program for Microenterprise Practitioners on January 27 in
Preservation Park in Oakland. Attended by 13 participants,
this training concluded a six-month program devoted to the
leadership development goals of microenterprise professionals.
Helen
Smolinski of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the
SF Bay Area receives her certificate of completion.
The training was designed for Executive Directors, Board,
and Managers of Microenterprise Development Programs, and
provided participants with a deeper understanding of organization
change, designing change, and mission and vision. During the
workshop, participants reported on the accomplishments and
challenges made during the program based on their individual
workplans. The workshop concluded with an interactive certificate
of completion ceremony and a congratulatory cake.
Karuna
Jaggar of Women's Initiative for Self Employment describes
her appreciation for the Executive Leadership program
and for CAMEO and the trainers.
In the words of a participant, “I really enjoyed all
aspects of the program. The initial session in Sacramento
was very enlightening, inspiring, and it provided several
concrete tools for various tasks. Every phone call provided
additional inspiration, camaraderie and several concepts or
solutions that I could take away and incorporate into my work.”
Another participant said, “The program provided me time,
a place, a colleagues to help me think, plan and be proactive
about our organization’s issues”. Another remarked,
“Without the support of CAMEO and Citibank, this could
not be possible for our organization. Even six months after
our initial training I keep saying, I get it!”
CAMEO's
Data Management Learning Cluster Online
Training Sessions
November 15 and November 29, 2005 This
program included (a) an informational program orientation;
(b) two tele/web-based trainings; (c) technical assistance
in the development and implementation of your customized data
management workplan; and (d) teleconferenced support group
meetings with other practitioners in the program. Seventeen
participants from California attended the November 15 training
and 18 participants from three states attended November 29.
Entrepreneur
Training for Immigrants:
An ESL Approach October
6, 2005
Online
On October 6, CAMEO
offered a specialized training on Entrepreneur Training
for Immigrants: An ESL Approach. The training was
designed to serve the needs of microenterprise staff involved
with managing or launching a microenterprise program serving
immigrants or clients for whom English is a second language.
Twenty-two participants from seven states took part.
Attendees came away with a deeper understanding of working
with ESL trainers, developing an engaging set of training
materials, and securing partners to bring ESL programs to
scale.
One participant remarked:
“The training was great! All of the information is very
relevant to the community we work with.” Another said,
“The training was wonderful. Thanks to the presenters
for sharing great information from their experience!”
Media
to Action: Making the Most of Your
Client Success Stories September 13,
2005
Online
CAMEO led a specialized
training on Managing Your Media Campaign for Microenterprise
Development for microenterprise staff who manage
communications or work with the media to advance support for
microenterprise. The teleworkshop drew 27 participants from
seven states.
Those who took part gained valuable knowledge about cultivating
and maintaining good relationships with the media; developing
consistent messages that inspire action and support for microenterprise;
garnering broad public awareness of microenterprise development
through the effective use of client success stories; and promoting
significant and widespread investment in microenterprise as
an anti-poverty and/or economic development strategy.
In the words of one participant,
“The workshop was very informational and interesting.
I appreciate having the opportunity to learn from these presenters—thank
you!” Another commented, “We definitely came away
with some basic ideas and information that we’ll use.”
Executive
Leadership Program for
Microenteprise Practitioners June
28-29, 2005
Sacramento, CA
CAMEO held a fun and
interactive two-day retreat for the Executive Leadership Program
for Microenterprise Practitioners on June 28-29 in Sacramento.
Attended by 20 participants from three states, this training
kicked off a six-month program devoted to the leadership development
goals of microenterprise professionals.
The retreat was designed for Executive Directors, Board and
Managers of Microenterprise Development Programs, and provided
participants with a deeper understanding of their leadership
gifts and how to use them; their own communication skills
and a better understanding of others’ preferred methods
of communication; the ability to help themselves and others
manage change; the ability to lead and participate in high
performance teams; and an increased level of knowledge and
skills in effectively using power, authority, and responsibility.
In the words of a participant in the two-day retreat, “CAMEO’s
trainers are knowledgeable and respectful, and present different
styles that focuses on practical information.” Another
commented that the trainers were “clear, thoughtful,
confident, funny, enjoyable, sincere and perceptive.”
