February 2021, where have the weeks gone? Excitement is building in preparation for Propel 2021. We are looking forward to setting record breaking attendance numbers this year. Despite the virtual world, we expect incredible networking opportunities, stellar speakers, and prodigious break-out sessions. Our theme this year is “Driving Change Through Diversity.” Mark your calendars for April 28th and 29th. |
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Navigating through the advocacy and public policy process can be challenging. Join us for this two-part educational training series on February 23rd and March 23rd for the “Art of Advocacy” presented by SoCalGas. These sessions will equip you to become actively involved in the public policy process and increase your knowledge and awareness about advocacy issues affecting your business. The series will include advocacy conversations, roundtables and discussion to empower attendees with knowledge in the following:
Session 1
• California legislative structure and policy cycle
• Legislative bill process
• The role and impact of state government
Session 2
• Legislative outreach
• Best practices in advocacy (local, state, national)
In my recent conversations with members across the state, these are the top 3 concerns that have been expressed.
- Procurement challenges
- Access to Capital
- Redefining small business from 500 or less employees to 50 or less
As you prepare for the Art of Advocacy, what challenges are you experiencing in your business that you would like your elected officials to be aware of?
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
In recognition of Black History month and this historical time in our country, I include a few notable women in this issue. Read their brief stories and remember that nothing is impossible for women, we are already in the White House, and the glass ceiling has been broken; let's clear away the debris and keep moving forward.
Rest in Power – Cicely Tyson (December 19, 1924 – January 28, 2021), age 96
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Cicely Tyson first appeared on the screen in the movie Sounder and gained her first Oscar at 88. As a former model, Ms. Tyson was particular about the roles she played in films. She refused roles that were degrading to women, and she insisted that she be cast as human, resilient, and sometimes flawed. Rest sweet lady; you shall be missed.
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Women in the spotlight – A Celebration of Black History Month
When you consider home security, think of Marie Ban Bittan Brown. Mrs. Brown recognized threats to her home's safety, and she created a system that notified her when people came to her door, and it would alert the police immediately. Her invention included monitors, peepholes, cameras, and microphones. The patent Marie Brown created set the foundation for our current closed-circuit television systems, push button alarms, and traffic monitoring.
The next time you set your home security alarm, thank Marie Ban Bittan Brown.
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African American Women who have made history:
Kamala Harris – Vice President
Amanda Gorman – Youngest Inaugural Poet
Diane Watson – Congressmember, a California native that served in office from 2001- 2011
Karen Bass – Congressmember, a California native that has served since 2011
Gloria Gray – First African American woman to serve and lead the Metropolitan Water District Board
Barbara Jordan – First African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction
Notable days in the history of women's rights
February 1st
Harriet Tubman– First postage stamp to honor a black woman is issued in Washington, DC.
February 11th
Rev. Barbara Harris - Became the first woman bishop in the American Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion worldwide.
February 12, 1909
The NAACP was founded on the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
February 15th
The Suffrage Monument, depicting Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott, sculpted by Adelaide Johnson, is dedicated at the U.S. Capitol
February 24th
Henrietta Szold founds Hadassah, the largest Jewish organization in American history, focusing on healthcare and education in the Israel and the U.S.
2021 Upcoming Events
February 11th 12:00-1:30 PST
“The Greatness of Diversity”
Let’s continue the conversation. Diversity is the impetuous of change. Register here
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February 23rd Art of Advocacy – Session One
March 23rd Art of Advocacy – Session Two
April 28th- 29th Propel Conference
June 6th – Advocacy Days
October 17th-19th – National Women's Business Conference – New Orleans
Announcements
2021 Woman Business Owner of the Year – Nomination period April 13th – June 1st
Diversity Matters: People often relate diversity to race and sometimes gender and more recently sexual orientation. I think this is a narrow view of what diversity means. NAWBO-CA women business owners are proud protagonists of change.
Remember the work you do today, builds a better tomorrow. Vikita Poindexter
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Blessings,
Vikita Poindexter, SPHR-CA, SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP
CA Insurance License #0K21140
Poindexter Consulting Group, LLC.
2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winner
2020 Women of Influence Awards Nominee, San Diego Woman’s Advocate Award
2019 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Award Winner
2019 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Finalist
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
2008 and 2009 Citizen of the Year Nominee
2008 and 2009 Sterling Business of the Year Nominee
951.926.9069 OFFICE
866.608.5556 TOLL FREE
951.346.3581 FAX
President, NAWBO-CA
National Association of Women Business Owners, State of California
Past, President, NAWBO-IE
National Association of Women Business Owners, Inland Empire
Committee Member
Labor and Employment Issues/Workforce Skills and Education/Workers Compensation
California Small Business Association
California Department of Insurance
Insurance Commissioner Lara Appointed Diversity Task Force Member
Insurance Diversity Initiative (IDI)
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Join NAWBO California and members of all 11 California chapters for our second California Member Mixer. Make connections with Golden State NAWBO members from San Diego to Sacramento and everywhere in between!
March 9, 2021 | 4:00 - 5:30 PM PST
Via Zoom
We will have a trivia game celebrating International Women's Day and the winning members will receive some prizes!
Please register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE | LEARNING, CONNECTING
& CELEBRATING WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
April 28 and 29, 2021
Join us for a two-day conference that implements and acknowledges the commitment to advance our businesses and communities by driving change that includes all, not just some.
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My LA2050 Grants Challenge
If you are in Los Angeles County, the My LA2050 grant opportunity may be of interest to you.
The grant program represents an open call for ideas to make LA the best place to learn, create, play, connect, and live.
Award levels will be determined via public vote. Voters will determine which organizations place first ($100,000), second ($50,000), third ($25,000), fourth ($15,000), and fifth ($10,000) in each goal category. All 25 finalists that participate in the voting stage will receive a grant, with five grants distributed at each dollar amount (e.g., there will be five $100,000 winners).
Deadline to Apply: April 2, 2021
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Public Policy & Advocacy Committee Update
Legislation of Interest Introduced So Far
The California State Senate and Assembly returned to the Capitol on January 4th to convene the 2021-22 legislative session. All staff provided assistance remotely while both houses held their floor session to approve the legislative calendar for the year and to finalize committee assignments.
President pro Tempore of the Senate Toni Atkins and Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon listed their priorities in line with the Governor’s proposed budget to focus their attention on COVID-19 response and vaccinations, wildfire mitigation, homelessness, small business stimulus and job creation for workers.
There have been discussions in the Assembly that the maximum amount of bills each member can introduce would be reduced from 20 to 12, since the staff and committee consultants are working remotely and the hearing schedules will need to be reduced to accommodate social distancing in each hearing room.
The policy committees in both houses have changed dramatically with many committees’ consisting of all newly-elected members. For example, leadership in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, along with the committee’s membership have brought in all new members. With Senator Jerry Hill reaching his term limit in 2020, newly-elected chair, Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) will take the helm. The committee’s membership includes Senators Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) as vice chair, Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), and Josh Newman (D-Fullerton). NAWBO-CA’s Advocacy and Public Policy Committee will be meeting with all of the new members, since workers’ compensation will be a new issue for them. The committee members will no doubt rely on the committee’s well-seasoned Chief Consultant Gideon Baum for background and guidance moving forward this session.
Another example of changes the New Year brings is on the Assembly side. The Assembly Insurance Committee is one of several committees that have increased their membership seats. This committee added 3 more members on an already large committee. Tom Daly (D-Los Angeles) will remain as Chair of this committee. The fourteen-member committee includes Assemblymembers: Chad Mayes (I-Rancho Mirage) as vice chair, Marc Berman (D-Los Altos), Frank Bigelow (R-Madera), Phillip Chen (R-Brea), Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield), Mike Gipson (D-Gardena), Timothy Grayson (D-Concord), Sydney Kamlager (D-Culver City), Freddie Rodriguez (D-Chino), Randy Voepel (R-Santee), and Dr. Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa).
It is important to note that the majority of Assembly Insurance Committee members are returning to this committee and that the three additional members Kamlager, Rodriguez and Wood are new to this committee. The Assembly Insurance Committee also has a new Chief Consultant, Katie O’Malley, former Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Tom Daly.
Finally, the legislature’s calendar indicates that session will convene in the Capitol from January 11th through September 10th with a summer recess from July 16th through August 16th for the first year of the biennial session. Even with the deadline for bill introduction on February 19th, bills can be amended any time through August.
The current list of bills that have been introduced so far is here. We can expect to see several more bills relating to workers’ compensation, healthcare, employment law and COVID-19 response before February 19th which is the deadline for 2021 bill introduction. We can also expect a list of bills supported by the Legislative Women’s Caucus by or before the 19th.
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JOIN THE PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE
We encourage anyone interested in advocacy to join the Public Policy Committee. It’s open to all members and we meet on the 4th Friday of the month from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. If you’re interested, email NAWBO-CA’s Advocacy and Public Policy Director Robin Allen at robindharris1@hotmail.com. Robin Allen has taken over the position in place of Moreen Lane, so please address all advocacy and public policy questions to Robin Allen and Lori Kammerer, NAWBO-CA’s lobbyist, at LoriKammerer@gmail.com. The bigger the team, the greater the outcomes!
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Silicon Valley invites you to two events: On February 11 - VTA's 2021 Upcoming Projects Webinar, which provides details on upcoming projects including Construction, Engineering, Professional Services, BART Phase II and on February 16 - 5 Keys to Reclaim Your Energy to Transcend Beyond Limits. If you're trying to juggle remote working, homeschooling, and parenting while still growing your business, come learn how to prevent burnout through practical tools, exercises, and wisdom.
Santa Barbara presents Speed Dating To Find Your Business Match on February 24. Join us for a morning of "speed dating" with other local business owners to expand your network, exchange information and find potential collaborations for 2021 and beyond.
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