The Concord Office had a special visit yesterday by Congressman George Miller, who has represented California’s 7th District since 1975. Miller learned how Women’s Initiative plays a vital role in creating jobs and building the local economy. As the Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, job creation is of the upmost importance to Miller, and Women’s Initiative was the right place for him to be.
With a Simple Steps course in action, Congressman Miller met with current students and later had a discussion with a number of graduates from his constituency. Each graduate shared their story on how and why they came to start their businesses, and many shared samplings of their products.
“This economy is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and I’m older than all of you,” said Miller as he applauded the graduates for finding their own innovative solutions. When the economy does improve, he assured the graduates that they will be well positioned to take their businesses to the next level.
Women have many barriers to overcome, Miller emphasized, for starters, just to get health insurance, being a woman is often a “pre-existing condition,” and motherhood can make a traditional 9 to 5 job feel nearly impossible. Entrepreneurship can help women create a job for themselves around their hurdles.
In hopes to expand micro-entrepreneurship and Women’s Initiative’s impact nationwide, especially through federal support, CEO Julie Castro-Abrams expressed the need to partner with the Congressman. Perhaps we do have a new partner, because Miller reflected in his blog that at Women’s Initiative he “saw great examples of job creation and community building in the East Bay.”
To see pictures of the event, check out the Congressman George Miller’s blog post on the event.
By Theresa McMenomy, Microenterprise Fellow
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