Valley women who have faced personal or financial struggles, or who just need some help and guidance with re-launching their own careers or businesses, have two new free resources to lend them that helping hand.
Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) has opened Maricopa County’s only women’s business center to develop, support and expand women-owned businesses—from entrepreneurs with great ideas, to well-established businesses in a range of industries, as well as women facing economic or other barriers to starting a business.
The Arizona Women’s Education and Entrepreneur Center (AWEEc) is located at 640 N. 1st Ave., but it serves women from around the Valley.
“AWEEc has the capacity, programs and services not available anywhere else in Maricopa County, and we offer all programs and services in English and Spanish,” said AWEEc Program Director Alicia Marseille.
Cassie Uhl, jewelry designer and owner of ZennedOut, leads a workshop at Arizona Women’s Education and Entrepreneur Center (AWEEc) about how to successfully use Etsy.com to sell a product (submitted photo).
Marseille says AWEEc has three key goals: increasing the number of successful women-owned small businesses and helping accelerate their growth; supporting women who see entrepreneurship as a form of self-sufficiency; and knocking down barriers for women facing economic or other challenges.
AWEEc, which launched in February, provides entrepreneurs and existing business owners education and resources that include training and workshops, one-on-one counseling, online programs, mentoring and support networks. Among AWEEc’s unique opportunities are programs to develop core business skills and strategies to target low- to mid-income populations, and financial literacy specifically for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
Nadine Homeier, an independent insurance broker in Glendale who recently opened her own agency, first connected with AWEE more than 20 years ago after her longtime marriage failed, leaving her with no job, no prospects, no money and no skills to help her find a job. “The AWEE team helped me with my resumé, confidence and first job,” she said. “I’ve been building upon that foundation ever since.”
For more information about the Arizona Women’s Education and Entrepreneur Center, visit www.facebook.com/AweeCenterAZ or call 602-223-4329. For more information about AWEE, visit www.awee.org.
Thanks to Cox Communications, residents of UMOM New Day Centers in downtown Phoenix have access to a fully updated Career Center. This spring, UMOM was awarded a Cox Technology grant to provide new computers, laptop and printer, flat-screen TV, re-wiring and electrical, furniture and supplies for the existing career center.
On any given day, there are more than 150 people living at the shelter, many of whom are looking for employment. In the career center these adults can search for jobs online, write a resume, and work with volunteers to prep for an interview.
“With the enhancements from the Cox Communications technology grant, residents now have the tools necessary to support their employment search and ultimately provide for their family,” said Rosanne Harper, UMOM Employment navigator, adding that, “Employment is a large barrier for the parents at UMOM and is a key part for most family’s case plan.”
Harper says the new technology will allow UMOM to teach group classes to its residents about how to apply for scholarships, computer literacy, and how to find job openings online. In addition, residents can use the new computers to look for housing, and apply for school.
“Cox is committed to increasing the accessibility of technology for our community,” said Susan Anable, vice president of Public Affairs, Cox Communications Southwest.
“Collectively, we are working to ensure our community members are prepared to thrive in today’s digital world and excel in their future.”
