June 2020 newsletter
President's Message
Greetings #NAWBOcommunity,
 
We trust this email finds you and yours safe and well, and using your voices to bring about equality for all.

I hope you received and read our letter on June 3rd, co-written by our incoming President, Vikita Poindexter and me. I’ll quote a bit from it below:

Women business owners have always been the catalyst for positive change. Together, we are building diverse teams that work differently than the ones before us. There is no better multiplier of positive change than our voices and actions as leaders. Our diversity IS our strength.

When the world around us is going through so much, it is each of you who reminds us that there is hope. Our hope comes in the form of being a collective, clear voice of public policy, economic opportunity, and diverse talent collaborating over new ideas, engaging in difficult but necessary conversations, and lifting one another up in good times and in bad. 

It’s been my experience that we #NAWBOcommunity members are a resilient and forward-thinking group. While we navigate all that is going on right now, we still seem to manage to think past the now, and envision the future. As we do this, please know that NAWBO-CA is here for you, as always, as a resource, a support system, a sounding board, and so much more.

This will be my last letter to you all as NAWBO-CA President. My term ends June 30. It’s been an honor to serve with and for you. It’s been inspirational for me to watch all the brilliant and talented women on this board accomplish amazing new milestones. Click here to continue reading.
Advocacy Update
California Act for Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for All (ACA 5)

In mid-April NAWBO-CA and its chapters sent letters in support of the California Act for
Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for All (ACA 5), authored by Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. (D- San Diego). The legislation would repeal Proposition 209, California’s 20-year old and outdated law preventing full participation by women and minorities in the state’s economic prosperity.

We chose to support the Assembly Constitutional Amendment because a 2015 study showed that businesses owned by women lose $1.1 billion annually in government contracts. The data showed there was a need for the State of California to hire more women to positions of leadership and contract with businesses that reflect the diversity of California.

In support of the legislation and in a very short time frames, members from the NAWBO-CA Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Diego, Orange County, Sacramento and San Francisco Chapters connected key legislators in their districts asking for an AYE vote when the measure was being heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Assembly floor.

On June 10th , the California State Assembly passed ACA 5 that would repeal barriers to state contracting, employment and access to higher education for women and minorities. The measure required 2/3 votes and passed with 60 AYEs. We can take pride in knowing that our members helped with the passage of ACA 5! With its passage off the Assembly Floor, ACA 5 became the first bill to provide a path forward to a full restoration of affirmative action and will now head to the Senate.

During the week of June 15-19, our chapter members will be calling key legislators from the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement and Appropriations Committees. It will face a floor vote in the Senate later this month, before the June 25th deadline for propositions to be considered for the 2020 ballet. We have once again shown that we are a nimble and a responsive organization and we deserve a place at the table!
Chapter News
NAWBO-IE will be virtually installing its 2020-2021 Board of Directors on July 16. Please find the names of the new Officers and Directors here .
Propel 2020 Virtual is coming on July 29!
Women in Power…Lead

The generations that have been leading the way the past 100 years will pass on the knowledge and wisdom to set a strong foundation for the next 100 years. The most successful mentorship program is when the mentor-mentee line is blurred! Seasoned WBOs can assist in helping pave the way to the top, while younger WBOs can provide valuable insight into new trends.

Now more than ever we need to leverage our power to bring the future we want, need, and envision.

This year’s 2020 Propel Virtual will be a full day session on Wednesday, July 29.

Visit  nawbopropel.org  for more information and to register today.
Virtual Chapter Events This Month
Our Sponsors