SYRACUSE — Starting a business is an amazing opportunity for any woman, but it rises to another level for domestic-violence victims, says Joanne Lenweaver, director of the WISE Women’s Business Center. “Having this phenomenal opportunity offered to you and having the resources to actually see that this is a possibility,” Lenweaver says. “That you have […]
SYRACUSE — Starting a business is an amazing opportunity for any woman, but it rises to another level for domestic-violence victims, says Joanne Lenweaver, director of the WISE Women’s Business Center.
“Having this phenomenal opportunity offered to you and having the resources to actually see that this is a possibility,” Lenweaver says. “That you have a choice now is remarkable.”
The WISE Center, Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center, and Vera House are working together on a new project to offer those choices to domestic violence victims through entrepreneurship training.
A $100,000 grant from Verizon is funding the effort, known as Project Phoenix. It’s one of five grants Verizon awarded to work-force development groups and domestic-violence agencies across the state to develop entrepreneurship training programs.
The one-year grant aims to train 15 to 20 people, says Randi Bregman, director of Vera House, a Syracuse nonprofit that works on issues involving domestic and sexual violence. Ten women have signed up so far and some already have ideas for businesses or have started young companies, she says.
One of the greatest challenges for victims of domestic violence is gaining economic independence, Bregman says.
“Part of the healing is knowing that you can take care of yourself and move on from having lived in fear,” she says. “The economic reality leaves people in fear for a long time.”
The flexibility of owning a business will allow domestic-violence survivors to work from home and around child-care arrangements, Bregman notes. Entrepreneurship is also largely about empowerment and figuring out how to advance one’s goals and visions.
Much of the language involved is similar to how Vera House speaks with victims, Bregman says.
“It’s really empowering people to find themselves,” she says. “That’s consistent with what we do.”
South Side Innovation Center Director Bob Herz agrees.
“The link is really empowerment,” he says. “We help people take control of their lives and over their futures as entrepreneurs.”
The South Side Innovation Center will help Project Phoenix participants take the first steps toward launching their companies. Training will involve basic money management, time management, and public speaking.
The center also expects to help participants form business entities and move some of them on to more advanced training in business-plan development, Herz says. Participants will also have the chance to apply for a Verizon Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant at the end of the training.
The grants, worth up to $5,000, are meant to help fund business startups. The South Side Innovation Center can also connect participants with micro-loans, Herz says.
Some of the Verizon grant will be set aside to allow Project Phoenix participants to attend the annual Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) Symposium. The symposium and the WISE Center provide networking opportunities and support for members of the program, Lenweaver says.
Women business owners face unique challenges and the WISE Center can help Project Phoenix participants overcome them, she adds. Many of them, for example, may have worked on or even owned companies with ex-spouses, she notes.
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SYRACUSE — Starting a business is an amazing opportunity for any woman, but it rises to another level for domestic-violence victims, says Joanne Lenweaver, director of the WISE Women’s Business Center.
“Having this phenomenal opportunity offered to you and having the resources to actually see that this is a possibility,” Lenweaver says. “That you have a choice now is remarkable.”
The WISE Center, Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center, and Vera House are working together on a new project to offer those choices to domestic violence victims through entrepreneurship training.
A $100,000 grant from Verizon is funding the effort, known as Project Phoenix. It’s one of five grants Verizon awarded to work-force development groups and domestic-violence agencies across the state to develop entrepreneurship training programs.
The one-year grant aims to train 15 to 20 people, says Randi Bregman, director of Vera House, a Syracuse nonprofit that works on issues involving domestic and sexual violence. Ten women have signed up so far and some already have ideas for businesses or have started young companies, she says.
One of the greatest challenges for victims of domestic violence is gaining economic independence, Bregman says.
“Part of the healing is knowing that you can take care of yourself and move on from having lived in fear,” she says. “The economic reality leaves people in fear for a long time.”
The flexibility of owning a business will allow domestic-violence survivors to work from home and around child-care arrangements, Bregman notes. Entrepreneurship is also largely about empowerment and figuring out how to advance one’s goals and visions.
Much of the language involved is similar to how Vera House speaks with victims, Bregman says.
“It’s really empowering people to find themselves,” she says. “That’s consistent with what we do.”
South Side Innovation Center Director Bob Herz agrees.
“The link is really empowerment,” he says. “We help people take control of their lives and over their futures as entrepreneurs.”
The South Side Innovation Center will help Project Phoenix participants take the first steps toward launching their companies. Training will involve basic money management, time management, and public speaking.
The center also expects to help participants form business entities and move some of them on to more advanced training in business-plan development, Herz says. Participants will also have the chance to apply for a Verizon Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant at the end of the training.
The grants, worth up to $5,000, are meant to help fund business startups. The South Side Innovation Center can also connect participants with micro-loans, Herz says.
Some of the Verizon grant will be set aside to allow Project Phoenix participants to attend the annual Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) Symposium. The symposium and the WISE Center provide networking opportunities and support for members of the program, Lenweaver says.
Women business owners face unique challenges and the WISE Center can help Project Phoenix participants overcome them, she adds. Many of them, for example, may have worked on or even owned companies with ex-spouses, she notes.
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SYRACUSE — Starting a business is an amazing opportunity for any woman, but it rises to another level for domestic-violence victims, says Joanne Lenweaver, director of the WISE Women’s Business Center. “Having this phenomenal opportunity offered to you and having the resources to actually see that this is a possibility,” Lenweaver says. “That you have […]
SYRACUSE — Starting a business is an amazing opportunity for any woman, but it rises to another level for domestic-violence victims, says Joanne Lenweaver, director of the WISE Women’s Business Center.
“Having this phenomenal opportunity offered to you and having the resources to actually see that this is a possibility,” Lenweaver says. “That you have a choice now is remarkable.”
The WISE Center, Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center, and Vera House are working together on a new project to offer those choices to domestic violence victims through entrepreneurship training.
A $100,000 grant from Verizon is funding the effort, known as Project Phoenix. It’s one of five grants Verizon awarded to work-force development groups and domestic-violence agencies across the state to develop entrepreneurship training programs.
The one-year grant aims to train 15 to 20 people, says Randi Bregman, director of Vera House, a Syracuse nonprofit that works on issues involving domestic and sexual violence. Ten women have signed up so far and some already have ideas for businesses or have started young companies, she says.
One of the greatest challenges for victims of domestic violence is gaining economic independence, Bregman says.
“Part of the healing is knowing that you can take care of yourself and move on from having lived in fear,” she says. “The economic reality leaves people in fear for a long time.”
The flexibility of owning a business will allow domestic-violence survivors to work from home and around child-care arrangements, Bregman notes. Entrepreneurship is also largely about empowerment and figuring out how to advance one’s goals and visions.
Much of the language involved is similar to how Vera House speaks with victims, Bregman says.
“It’s really empowering people to find themselves,” she says. “That’s consistent with what we do.”
South Side Innovation Center Director Bob Herz agrees.
“The link is really empowerment,” he says. “We help people take control of their lives and over their futures as entrepreneurs.”
The South Side Innovation Center will help Project Phoenix participants take the first steps toward launching their companies. Training will involve basic money management, time management, and public speaking.
The center also expects to help participants form business entities and move some of them on to more advanced training in business-plan development, Herz says. Participants will also have the chance to apply for a Verizon Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant at the end of the training.
The grants, worth up to $5,000, are meant to help fund business startups. The South Side Innovation Center can also connect participants with micro-loans, Herz says.
Some of the Verizon grant will be set aside to allow Project Phoenix participants to attend the annual Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (WISE) Symposium. The symposium and the WISE Center provide networking opportunities and support for members of the program, Lenweaver says.
Women business owners face unique challenges and the WISE Center can help Project Phoenix participants overcome them, she adds. Many of them, for example, may have worked on or even owned companies with ex-spouses, she notes.
